ISIS case accused claims suspected Army personnel offered trial 'wipe out'; court seeks NIA reply
Mumbai (PTI): An ISIS link case accused has claimed two persons posing as Army officers approached him and offered to "wipe out" his trial if he joined a covert operation, prompting a court here to seek responses from the NIA and police.
Areeb Majeed, arrested in 2014 under the anti-terror law and facing trial, filed an application before the court stating that he doesn't seek any extrajudicial favours and settlements, but wishes his case to be decided strictly on legal merits.
Taking cognisance of his plea, the court on Wednesday said this is a "serious incident involving suspected impersonation, attempted inducement, subsequent pressure, and interference with the fair administration of justice."
Special NIA Court Judge Chakor Baviskar issued a notice to the Bazar Peth police (at Kalyan in neighbouring Thane district) and the National Investigation Agency, seeking their reply to the complaint raised by Majeed.
The matter has been adjourned to March 4.
According to the application filed by Majeed, who was granted bail by the high court in 2021, the events unfolded on February 21, 2026.
It stated that Majeed was at his college when his wife informed him that an unidentified man and woman had arrived at his residence in Kalyan, insisting on waiting inside for his return.
The woman, claiming to be from the Indian Army, told Majeed over the phone that she was accompanied by a senior Colonel-rank officer from New Delhi.
She allegedly told Majeed they needed his "help" in a covert operation and, in return, would "wipe out the case pending against" him, the plea said.
Suspecting an attempt to prejudice his trial or engineer communications that could implicate him further, Majeed refused them entry.
He then dialled the 112 emergency helpline number and alerted the NIA control room.
The two individuals were subsequently taken to the Bazar Peth police station for questioning.
The NIA's case was that Majeed had travelled to Syria to allegedly join the terrorist group ISIS and returned to India to carry out terror activities.
He was arrested in November 2014 under provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code for waging war against the nation and other charges.
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Rajasthan man in search of his SUV assaulted, robbed in Bengaluru; one held
Bengaluru (PTI): A 32-year-old man from Rajasthan who travelled to Bengaluru to retrieve his missing SUV was allegedly assaulted and robbed, police said on Thursday.
The victim, Chandra Prakash, a resident of Jodhpur, had lent his SUV to his friend Mahendra Gujjar over a year ago on the assurance that it would be returned within a few weeks, they said.
When the vehicle was not returned, he lodged a complaint with the local police in Jodhpur last year, but no progress was made.
According to police, Prakash then allegedly used a mobile application to track his vehicle’s location and found that it was being driven in Bengaluru. On February 23, he reached the city with a spare key, located the SUV parked by the roadside in east Bengaluru and drove it away after unlocking it.
Around 11.10 pm, as he neared Bommanahalli Circle, three men on a two-wheeler intercepted him. When he questioned them, an argument ensued and the trio allegedly assaulted him with an iron rod and a helmet, a senior police officer said.
The accused allegedly robbed him of two mobile phones and fled with the SUV. Prakash sustained injuries and was shifted to a hospital for treatment, he said.
Based on his complaint, Mangilal Choudary (40), a businessman from Rajasthan, was arrested in connection with the incident, police said, adding that efforts are being made to nab the other two suspects.
During interrogation, Choudary told police he had extended a friendly loan to an acquaintance who defaulted and that the SUV was given as security, police said.
Gujjar had allegedly borrowed money from acquaintances and passed the vehicle to a friend of Choudary, who later returned it to him. The SUV and the two mobile phones have been recovered, they added.
