2020 Bengaluru riots accused prima facie committed terrorist act, says Karnataka High Court
Bengaluru, Apr 17: Rejecting the petition of an accused in the DJ Halli-KG Halli 2020 riots in Bengaluru, a single-judge bench of the Karnataka High Court has said that prima facie there was evidence to show that the acts committed by the accused were terrorist acts under Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Justice M Nagaprasanna, while rejecting the petition of Mohammed Shariff, accused number 25 in the case, said there was a prima facie case against him. The high court said that the accused committing a "terrorist act" was prima facie evident.
"The allegation against the petitioner or others in common is usage of inflammable devices as there is allegation of burning of vehicles either with explosive substance or inflammable substance, loss or damage or destruction of public property, all with an intent to disturb the security of the region of the nation. Therefore, the ingredients of Section 15 of the Act, in the considered view of this Court, are prima facie met," the HC said.
Mohammed Shariff had approached the high court against the Special Judge for NIA Cases, Bengaluru taking cognisance of the offences against him. He claimed there were no offences under the UAPA which he can be accused of.
His counsel argued, "The order of the Special Court bears no application of mind as there are no allegations against the petitioner that would touch upon offences punishable under the (UAPA) Act. At best, the petitioner can be said to be alleged of offences punishable under the IPC... Therefore, the petitioner has to be tried by the jurisdictional court, either the learned Magistrate or the learned Sessions Judge. Conducting trial by the NIA Court is contrary to law."
It was contended that the "NIA Court is only concerned with offences that would become punishable as defined under Section 15 of the Act and, therefore, (I) would submit that the proceedings before the NIA Court against the petitioner be quashed and he be permitted to be tried for IPC offences before the regular Court."
The counsel for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) contended that the "acts of the accused along with others clearly comes within the definition of 'terrorist act' as defined under Section 15 of the Act."
The bail application of the petitioner was earlier declined by the high court in 2022 which had considered this issue as well.
The HC in its judgment noted that there was prima facie material against the accused.
"The investigation established the petitioner coordinating with the movements and activities of the other accused persons. He was in constant touch and was meeting the participants who conspired and decided to carry out the violent attack on the police personnel.
Therefore, there is prima facie material in the charge sheet against the petitioner for alleging the offences under the Act," the HC said.
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Young woman from MP who shot to fame during Kumbh found to be minor, case registered against husband
Khargone (MP) (PTI): The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes on Friday confirmed that a young woman from Madhya Pradesh who became famous due to her viral videos during the 2025 Maha Kumbh has been found to be a minor after an inquiry.
Citing the findings of an inquiry panel set up by the commission, local BJP leaders alleged that her interfaith marriage in Kerala last month was a case of "love Jihad", and sought legal action.
While the panel had submitted its report in March, ST commission chairman Antar Singh Arya confirmed its findings to the PTI on Friday.
A case for alleged kidnapping and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has already been registered against her husband, a Muslim man, at Maheshwar on the basis of the inquiry findings, police said.
The girl gained national fame after her videos while selling garlands and rudraksha at the Maha Kumbh went viral on social media and also earned her a role in a film.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes set up an inquiry panel after receiving a complaint on March 17 from Pratham Dubey, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, that she was a minor and was being exploited.
Maheshwar BJP MLA Rajkumar Mev and BJP mandal president Vikram Patel, armed with documents, told reporters on Friday that her marriage in Kerala was a case of "love Jihad" and she should be brought back home.
'Love jihad' is a term used by right-wing groups to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into marriage to convert them to Islam.
Police said an investigation is underway, and further action would be taken accordingly.
The girl, who belongs to the nomadic Pardhi community, got married at a temple in Kerala in March. The interfaith marriage drew angry reactions from rightwing Hindu groups.
Her family members and film director Sanoj Mishra -- who had offered her a film role after she became famous -- too alleged that it was 'love Jihad'.
As per the inquiry conducted by the ST commission, records at the Maheshwar government hospital showed the woman's date of birth as December 30, 2009 which meant she was 16 years and two months old at the time of marriage, said Dubey, the complainant.
On a complaint filed by her father, police registered a case against the girl's husband at Maheshwar police station on March 25 for alleged kidnapping and under the POCSO Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Police sources said that a separate case was also registered on March 24 under section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (taking a minor from lawful custody of guardian without their consent) based on the the commission's findings.
