West Bengal has been notorious for the incidents of political violence that frequently keep coming to light in the state. As the state goes to polls on March 27, the atmosphere in the state is politically charged. It has been a few days since the mother of a BJP worker was brutally thrashed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) goons and yet another case of an attack on BJP workers has come to light in the state.
According to reports, six BJP workers were severely injured in an alleged crude bomb blast in Rampur village of South 24 Parganas district late in the night on Friday. It has been alleged by injured BJP workers that the bomb was hurled at them by TMC workers when they were returning from a wedding. The injured were reportedly brought to Canning Subdivision Hospital for treatment. Two of the injured six are in critical condition.
The incident happened when the BJP workers were returning from attending a wedding celebration late in the night. Bombs were hurled at them on the road, injuring six of them. Local BJP leaders have alleged that TMC workers were behind the attack.
However, TMC leaders have denied the allegation, and levelled a counter allegation saying that the blast took place when the BJP workers were making bombs.
An investigation into the case has been initiated by the police.
BJP worker’s mother thrashed by Trinamool Congress members
Last month, an elderly mother of a BJP worker named Gopal Majumdar was allegedly thrashed by TMC workers. The victim Shobha Majumdar narrated her horrors of the incident to media with a badly swollen face and injury marks. She alleged that she was hit on her head by TMC workers. Shobha, who was struggling to speak due to pain, said that the TMC workers threatened her not to speak about the incident. However, she said that she did not recognise the people who assaulted her.
Her son Gopal Majumdar said that his mother was pushed around by the attackers. “They pushed my mother and she has been injured…After attacking us, they left the house. I am a member of the local BJP Mandal (BJP Committee). They first assaulted us with bare hands and then hit on my head with the hood of a revolver. After that, I fell down on the ground. They and assaulted me further”, said Gopal Majumdar.
In a shocking incident, the alleged farmers, who are camping along the Dhansa Highway to protest against the Modi government on the new farm laws, pounced on a young lady and bullied her for confronting Republic Day riots accused Rakesh Tikait of his involvement in the January 26 day violence in the national capital.
On Friday, Rakesh Tikait had visited the Dhansa protest site along the Haryana-Delhi border, where protestors are camping over for the last three months to protest against the three farm laws passed by the centre. As Tikait appeared at the protest site, a young lady, who is reportedly a student activist, confronted the alleged farmer leader over issues such as protests, blockade and Republic Day riots.
In the video that has gone viral now, the young lady can be seen speaking on farmer protests at the Dhansa border as ‘farmer’ leaders stood next to her. The young girl then asked Rakesh Tikait about the future course of farmers protests and questioned the ‘farmer’ leaders on an agreeable solution to the alleged farmer protests.
Look at the way All of them PОUNCЕD on her When this Young Girl asked VALID but uncomfortable questions from Dakait pic.twitter.com/RW85Vf7JTM
“I want to Rakesh Tikait on the expected solution that is going to come out of the protests. A solution to these protests should be found so that both the youth and the farmers are not harmed. Can you please tell me what the agreeable solution to the issue is? You have said that the movement will not end until the government agrees to your demands. I want to ask what happens if both the government and the farmers do not agree to discuss it. What will be the solution? Everyone needs this answer,” the young girl questioned Rakesh Tikait and other ‘farmer’ leaders present at the stage.
Confronting Rakesh Tikait for his role in the Republic Day riots, the young girl asked him who would take responsibility for the violence that happened on January 26 in the national capital. I do not know who is responsible for the violence, but such violence will affect our society”.
As soon as the young girl dared to question Tikait regarding the Republic Day riots, the farmer leaders on the stage pounced on her and snatched away the microphone. The angry ‘farmers’, who were standing next to her, confronted and bullied her. One farmer leader can also be seen asking her name, to which the young girl bravely responded.
Even as the farmer leader attempted to stop her from speaking, the young lady continued to address the protestors and the ‘farmer’ leaders to assert that the country’s youth is bound to ask questions if incidents like Republic Day riots occur. The young lady said she did not want to blame anyone but wanted to seek accountability for the riots that were unleashed on the streets on Republic Day.
Republic Day riots in Delhi
Delhi on Republic Day this year was convulsed with large scale violence after rioters disguised as ‘farmers’ entered Delhi to unleash violence, injuring nearly 400 policemen. Many of those rioters, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and hoisted religious flags and alleged Khalistani flag on its domes and the flagstaff at the Red Fort while desecrating the national flag.
The police have so far registered 38 FIRs in connection with the Republic Day violence and have arrested over 100 people. They had also issued lookout notices against 44 people, including the alleged ‘farmer’ leaders, who they believed had instigated the rioters to indulge in violence.
The Income-Tax department has reportedly attached the Cheruvally estate located near Erumeli in Kottayam district, Kerala, which is owned by the Believers Church. The I-T department seized the land in a case of violation of foreign currency norms by the church. The Income Tax Department took over the church’s property as a precautionary measure after it found that foreign currency transactions worth Rs 500 crore done by the church was illegal.
The Believers Church, also known as the Believers Eastern Church, has reportedly been at loggerheads with the Kerala government since June last year when the state government tried to take over the Cheruvally Rubber estate for the construction of an airport near the Sabarimala temple. it is alleged that the church had taken over the 2000 acres of land using forged documents.
With the I-T department taking over the land, the state government’s plan to build an airport on the land could be in jeoparady.
The Believers Church has ownership dispute with Kerala government regarding the estate land
There is an ownership dispute over the estate land that the Believers Church reportedly bought in 2005. Successive governments in Kerala have claimed the ownership of the estate land. The suit for the ownership of the disputed land is going in a local Kerala court. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala had offered to deposit the money due for the estate in the local court. The Believers Church, however, refused to give the land.
Yohannan was reportedly served a summon by the I-T department to appear before it. However, he sent a reply to the I-T department expressing inability to travel and said that he would be available for questioning in the first week of December.
Crores was seized during raids at church officers last year
Last year in November, the I-T department had raided 66 premises of the Believers Church located in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Chandigarh, Punjab and Telangana. The department had reportedly seized at least Rs 15 crore from various offices of the Church out of which Rs 3.45 crore were confiscated from Delhi. Evangelist KP Yohannan, the founder and self-proclaimed Bishop of the Believers Church, has been managing the Gospel for Asia through which the church was launched. Yohannan, who is currently residing at Gospel for Asia Headquarters in Texas, USA, is said to have evaded detention under the US Racketeers, Influenced and Corrupt Organisation Act (RICO), 1970. The church, that was started by Yohannan in 1978, claims to have 2.4 million followers across 14 countries. It has branches in countries like the US, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Finland and so on.
Rs 6,000 crore received by the church under FCRA used for buying properties
According to reports, Yohannan Kadippiaril Punnose ( KP Yohannan) and the church had received a whopping Rs 6,000 crore foreign money for charity under the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act (FCRA). However, the donation money has been used by the church to buy properties including real estates. This points at huge scam along with FCRA violations. KP Yohannan is accused of committing irregularities in the name of Christianity particularly in Canada and the USA.
Yohannan has been facing accusations of embezzlement in Canada and the USA. He is accused of misusing of millions of dollars received in charitable donations. A lawsuit was reportedly filed against Yohannan last year in a US court following the similar accusations against him.
Hours after Trinamool Congress (TMC) released the list of candidates contesting the upcoming State Legislative polls in West Bengal, the supporters of former party MLA Arabul Islam burnt down his own party office as he was denied a ticket from his Bhangar constituency in South 24 Pargana. Arabul Islam had represented the constituency in 2006.
As per reports, the incident took place on Friday in Bhangar in South 24 Parganas after the TMC leader’s name did not feature in the list of candidates contesting the elections. While the party has denied ticket to incumbent MLA Abdur Razzak Molla, it has decided to field Rezaul Karim from the Bhangar seat. The supporters of Arabul Islam not only vandalised their own party office but also set it on fire. In a video that has now gone viral on social media, they were seen gathered around a bonfire that was initiated by setting the vacant party office ablaze.
Sourh 24 pargana ## TMC leader Arabul Islam and his workers vandalised Party office and burnt tyres .Showing protest after his ( Arabul Islam ) name didnot appear in the TMC Candidates list announced today .
While speaking to PTI, Arabul Islam said, “I will do whatever the local people want me to do.” He also broke into tears, after being denied the party ticket. He claimed that the party has dumped everyone, who has been loyal to it. In a Facebook post, Arabul Islam said, “Dolar aajke amar proyjon furalo (I seize to be important for my party).” Besides Islam, sitting TMC MLAs Rafiqur Rahaman and Sonali Guha have also been denied party tickets.
ALERT: Influential TMC leader and a prominent minority face of the party sounds unhappy at not being fielded in #WestBengalElections . Arabul Islam takes to FB to say, ‘I seize to be important for my party’. pic.twitter.com/OQbneSlzOs
On Friday, Mamata Banerjee announced, “Today, we are releasing a list of 291 candidates which includes 50 women, 42 Muslim candidates. On 3 seats of north Bengal, we not putting up our candidates. I will contest from Nandigram.” Earlier, the TMC had formed a 12-member election committee to give tickets to those with ‘clean image’ and decided to drop several sitting MLAs.
A TMC leader informed, “How the MLAs have performed in the last five years, their image in the area and acceptability will be the main parameters. This time we won’t be taking any chances. Reports by Prashant Kishor’s I-PAC on every MLA and their constituencies are likely to play a key role in the candidate selection.” The Election Commission of India on Friday announced an eight-phased Assembly poll for West Bengal beginning March 27. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
Arabul Islam has a criminal history, involved in scams and political murders
It must be mentioned that Arabul Islam was arrested in 2018 by West Bengal police for the murder of his opponent Hafijur Rahaman. Several crude bombs were also discovered at his residence, a day after his arrest. Islam has been involved in a multi-crore land scam and was arrested in 2013 for attacking CPI (M) leader Abdur Rezzak Mollah. He was also expelled from the party in 2014, following the death of 2 TMC workers.
BJP office vandalised in North 24 Parganas
Earlier, The BJP office in the Baranagar area of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal was vandalised on the day when the Election Commission sounded the poll bugle in the state. The BJP has accused the TMC of being involved in vandalism. One of the miscreants involved in the attack was beaten up by the BJP supporters and was later rescued by the police and taken to the police station. The saffron party has also filed a complaint with the police with respect to the attack.
The Mumbai Police have recovered five handkerchiefs that covered the face of Mansukh Hiren, the deceased owner of Scorpio that was found abandoned outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence Antilia. Hiren was mysteriously found dead on Friday in Mumbai.
According to the reports, the police officials said that five handkerchiefs were tied around and covered Mansukh Hiren’s mouth when his body was found. The handkerchiefs were then removed by the workers cleaning the body in the presence of police. Hiren’s body was found near Kalwa Creek, where he is said to have allegedly committed suicide.
Meanwhile, Vimla, the wife of one Mansukh Hiren, has said that her husband had left the house saying he would meet crime branch officer Tawde.
Speaking to the media, the deceased’s wife said that Mansukh had informed her about his meeting with crime branch officer Tawde for a routine investigation. According to Vimla, Mansukh was supposed to meet Tawde at Ghodbandar as part of a routine probe.
The distraught wife also said that Hiren’s phone was not reachable once he left the house. Vimla said they later registered a missing complaint at Naupada Police Station, however, it was not lodged.
Reportedly, the last location of Mansukh was traced at Virar, according to Naupada police station, where his missing complaint was registered. His last location was traced 50-55-km far from his residence.
Mansukh Hiren was in touch with Mumbai cop Sachin Vaze
Hours before reports of Hiren’s alleged suicide came in, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis had made sensational disclosures related to the Antilia bomb scare while speaking in the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha.
Speaking in the assembly, Fadnavis alleged that the owner of the Scorpio car, which was used to plant gelatin sticks and a threat letter outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai, was in touch with a mobile phone number that is registered in the name of Mumbai Police officer and ‘encounter specialist’ Sachin Vaze.
The car was owned by Mansukh Hiren, who had alleged that his car was stolen from Mulund-Airoli link road. Hiren had also filed a police complaint about the missing car. Hiren was found dead in a creek in Mumbai today.
Alleging a massive conspiracy in the case, Fadnavis had said that there were not one but two cars—one Scorpio and one Innova and added that both cars came from Thane and had followed the same route and reached the location. He said that while the Scorpio with the explosives was parked near Mukesh Ambani’s residence, the Innova had moved away.
Fadnavis also alleged that it could not be a coincidence that the car was stolen from Thane, the route they followed was also from Thane, and the IO investigating the case also lived in Thane.
“Sachin Vaze was the first police officer to reach the spot, and then he was appointed as the Investigation Officer (IO). Three days ago, he was removed as the IO, and I fail to understand why he was removed,” the former CM had said while asking how Vaze reached the spot before the local police.
Shockingly, hours after Devendra Fadnavis had mentioned the name of Mansukh Hiren on the floor of the assembly and requested the Maharashtra government to provide security to him, he was found dead. Mumbai Police said Hiren had allegedly committed suicide by jumping into Kalwa Creek.
The Trinamool Congress has named actress Saayoni Ghosh as their candidate from Asansol South for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021. The elections are due to take place over 8 phases from the 27th of March with results due to be declared on the 2nd of May.
Incidentally, Saayoni Ghosh is the same individual who was slammed on social media for insulting Lord Shiva after her tweet from 2015 resurfaced on social media.
On February 18, 2015, the actress had tweeted a picture wherein a female character was seen putting a condom over the sacred Hindu symbol of a Shivling. She wrote, “Gods cudnt have been more useful.” Her tweet maligning Hindu culture was posted on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri, which was observed on February 17 that year.
Source: Twitter
Saayoni Ghosh had subsequently issued an apology claiming that her account had been hacked. Following the announcement of her candidature from Asansol South, people have interpreted the move as the complete disregard for Hindu sentiments on the part of Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress.
— Ashish Merkhed – आशिष मेरखेड (@AshishMerkhed) March 5, 2021
She is Saayoni Ghosh,an actress & now @AITCofficial candidate from Asansol Dakhin who insulted our shiv ji. Mamata rewarded her with the ticket today. pic.twitter.com/qhjBZ9paX9
It remains to be seen whether the move by Trinamool Congress affects the electoral prospects of the party in the elections. Trinamool Congress has already earned a bad name for itself for rampant minority appeasement and disregard for Hindu sentiments.
The elections will be tightly fought with Mamata Banerjee struggling to retain her bastion. In recent times, her party has had to contend with a series of resignations; the most notable being Suvendu Adhikari who has joined the BJP since then and is in line to be BJP’s candidate from Nandigram versus Mamata Banerjee herself.
A Catholic school in the USA has sparked a massive controversy after they expelled three children from school on account of their mother’s raunchy pictures posted on OnlyFans. The school, named Sacred Heart Parish is located in Northern California in the United States.
As per reports, the woman has been identified as one 44-year-old Crystal Jackson, who is known as Mrs Poindexter online. She is a model and goes by the pseudonym of ‘Mrs Poindexter’ on the X-rated OnlyFans platform. Jackson began posting sensuous photos of her in lingerie in order to spice up her marriage. Eventually, she became one of the most popular models on the site. Her account is operated by her husband Chris. Jackson is helped by her husband in taking her photographs, which she regularly posts on the platform.
Jackson said that a group of jealous ‘Karen mums’ complained to the Principal of the school, thereby leading to the expulsion of her children. She informed that some women in her area took printouts of her OnlyFans photos and sent them to the school principal. In a statement, the Sacred Heart Parish school said, “Your apparent quest for high profile controversy in support of your adult website is in direct conflict with what we hope to impart to our students.”
The school further added, “We therefore require that you find another school for your children and have no further association with us.” The model recounted, “Someone came across my account and suddenly I had mums from school texting me and leaving voicemails saying I had to leave the school.” She added, “I’m starting to feel normal again. BTW those Karens that have been sending the school pictures since July, secretly follow me here.”
According to her, the most difficult part was to explain to her children that they will not go to the same school again. “They were very confused and shocked – we told them it was us the school didn’t want there, not them. They were very upset and cried over losing their friends,” she said. She added, “It is not the children’s fault – what we do has nothing to do with them.”
“Do you punish kids for the sins of their parents? If a parent commits a crime does their child get kicked out of school? No, they don’t,” Jackson said slamming the school for the decision.
The OnlyFans model said that her earnings have increased by 20-folds to almost $1,00,000 a day since her photos went viral on social media.
The West Bengal politics has been gaining heat with Congress also jumping into the political fray, where the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP are already fighting a ferocious battle for power. OpIndia reached out to Congress leader Haji Mohabbat Khan in Khidirpur, a Muslim dominated area in the state, for his take on the socio-political scenario in the state ahead of the Assembly polls.
Speaking to OpIndia, the Congress leader declared that the incumbent Trinamool Congress Government led by Didi (Mamata Banerjee) cannot free West Bengal from the clutches of the communal BJP. For this, the people have to vote for the Congress party, as it is the only political party in the state which can tackle BJP’s growing populism in West Bengal.
He said that he has been following Bengal politics from the time when Mamata Banerjee was the general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress in 1984. He said that he and his people had always been loyal to Mamata Banerjee. At that time they all fought together against the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front which was in power in the state for an unbroken 34 years. However, Mamata Banerjee had a fallout with the Congress after which she floated the Trinamool Congress party.
Then, the public who were already tired of the Left Front ruling the state decided to give the reigns of the state in the hands of Mamata Banerjee. However, TMC gradually started accepting all CPI-M goons in the party.
Saying this, the Congress leader asserts that if the Left Front could rule West Bengal for 34 years, it was only because of the drawbacks of the Congress party. They were not aggressive enough to keep CPI-M at bay. This is why when Mamata Floated her new party, the people of West Bengal immediately out their weight behind her with the hope that she would bring a refreshing change in the state.
In what could be seen as an attempt to woo the voters of the state, the Congress leader says that what the people of West Bengal think today, the people of other states view it 50 years later. So today the people of Bengal want a new government at the helm of affairs on the state. Saying so, Haji Mohabbat Khan endorsed a Congress govt in the poll-bound state.
“Didi imaandar hain, lekin dada log toh baimaan hain” (Even if Mamata Banerjee is faithful, the other party members are not), said Khan, furthering that while camapigning for the upcoming 2021 Assembly elections, the TMC representatives are seeking votes in the name of Mamata Banerjee, not on their own merit. They should try to woo voters based on their own reputation, not by encashing Mamata Banerjee’s name and clout.
The Congress leader reiterates that if ‘communal BJP’ has to be stopped from making successful inroads in West Bengal, then Congress is the only hope.
When OpIndia asked the Congress minister about his take on the political killings in the state, the baton of which has passed from the Congress Party to the CPM and now to TMC, Khan said that these have been happening all over India after Modi came to power in 2014. He opines that the Modi government and his supporters, who have envisioned India as a Hindu nation, has legitimatized violence in India, once a beacon of secularism, by polarising the country.
“Modiji chahate hain is baag mein sirf ek hi tarah ka phool khile” (Modi wants that only one type of flower should bloom in the garden) says the Congress leader, implying that Modi wants to make India a Hindu Rashtra.
Terming RSS, Bajrang Dal and various other Hindu outfits as “goonda dal” (team of goons), the Congress leader hits out saying that Modi under the influence of such outfits is damaging the country’s secular foundations.
Taking a similar jibe at the Mamata Banrejee led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, the Congress leader furthers that the goons who have entered the party are not interested in the upliftment, growth and well being of the people of the state, they are simply interested in “Haram ho ya halal ho humme paisa chaiye” (They want money, for that, they are not bothered whether they are doing haram or halal). “Jitna barbadi utna power, isliye woh log loot raha hain” (the more the destruction, more power, this is why they are plundering the state).
Congress leader Haji Mohabbat Khan confesses that in 2011, the Congress government at the Centre had instructed them to do whatever it takes to topple the CPM government and bring Mamata Banerjee to power in the state of West Bengal. We had then given our unconditional support to Mamata Banerjee’s TMC Party and ensured that Mamata Banerjee rose to power ending Left Front’s uninterrupted 34-year-old rule in the state.
“We had followed the instructions word by word. We brought the TMC to power in West Bengal. We trusted her. The poor party cadres stayed hungry, starved but yet gave their drop of their blood and sweat to get her to that position. We had thought that if didi (Mamata) comes to power West Bengal and its Bengalis would prosper, but nothing like that happened.
Here the Congress leader reiterates that if people want to get rid of the BJP government at the Centre, then people have to back Congress and not TMC.
Ahead of the upcoming polls in West Bengal, the Congress party has joined hands with rabid Islamist forces in the State. With an eye to gain political mileage and strengthen its hold over the Muslim vote bank, it has allied with Pirzada Abbas Siddiqui’s Indian Secular Front (ISF). The Congress party yields have a strong influence in Muslim-dominated areas of Malda, Murshidabad, and North Dinajpur in North Bengal. And the addition of Abbas Siddiqui to the political alliance will help win over young Muslim voters in South Bengal.
This is despite the fact that Abbas Siddiqui has exhibited his radical Islamist views in the past. During the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus in the world, a video of Abbas Siddiqui shot on February 26 last year had gone viral on social media. He was seen addressing a large gathering of followers and praying to Allah to kill 50 crore Indians with the virus. Siddiqui’s incendiary rhetoric, fear-mongering and calls for ‘divine intervention’ for the death of Hindus have been conveniently ignored by the Congress party.
While Congress has been thriving on Muslim appeasement and has sided with Abbas Siddiqui, it is interesting to note that the party has refrained from allying with the Owaisi due to its ‘extreme rhetorics’.
After Allahabad High Court set aside the wrongful conviction of a Brahmin man, Vishnu Tiwari, booked under the allegation of rape and provisions of the SC/ST Act, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India has taken cognisance of the case, in which an innocent man spent 20 years in jail for no crime of his.
A notice has been issued by the NHRC to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh seeking a detailed report on the matter. The report must also entail action initiated against the public servants responsible for the injustice to the man.
In addition, the report must also include measures taken for the relief and rehabilitation of the victim to compensate for the trauma, social stigma and mental pain he had endured during the years of his unjust imprisonment.
The NHRC has also mentioned in its report every person of the victim’s family had died while his duration of confinement. Despite exceptionally good conduct in the jail, his application for a furlough to attend his father’s cremation was rejected. He was also denied his brother’s cremation.
Allahabad High Court acquits Brahmin man who was in jail for 20 years on bogus rape charges
Last month, the Allahabad High Court acquitted the Brahmin man, Vishnu Tiwari, who was booked under the allegation of rape and provisions of the SC/ST Act. Tiwari had spent 20 years in jail on false charges of rape and provisions of the SC/ST Act. The Court’s acquittal was based on the medical examination report which said that no sperm or injuries were found on the prosecutrix, who was five months pregnant at the time. Her testimony also indicated that she was not a ‘stellar witness’.
The Court also expressed sadness over the ‘sorry state of affairs’ that contributed to the man’s two-decade imprisonment, observing the government’s failure to recommend his case for the remission of the sentence or to commute his sentence under sections 432-434 of the CrPC.
The Bench, comprising of Justices Dr Kaushal Jayendra Thaker and Gautam Chowdhary, observed, “Most unfortunate, aspect of this litigation is that the appeal was preferred through the jail. The matter remained as a defective matter for a period of 16 years and, therefore, we normally do not mention the defective appeal number, but we have mentioned the same. This defective conviction appeal was taken up as listing application was filed by the learned counsel appointed by Legal Services Authority on 6.12.2012 with a special mention that accused is in jail for 20 years.”
Areeb Majeed, who allegedly left to fight for ISIS, has walked of prison today after his bail was upheld by the Bombay High Court. He had allegedly left to join ISIS with three others in 2014 and returned six months later, following which he was promptly arrested and handed over to the NIA.
Areeb Majeed from Kalyaan, the only Indian to return after allegedly fighting the Islamic State (IS) War in Syria, walked out of Arthur Road prison on bail, today.
The Court said, “We have observed that the respondent is an educated person, who was completing his graduation in Civil Engineering when he left for Iraq at the age of 21 years. He categorically stated before us that as a 21-years-old, he was carried away and that he had committed a serious mistake, for which he had already spent more than six years behind bars.”
“In the past more than six years of his incarceration, the respondent has argued his case on his own before the NIA Court. He represented his own case before this Court as well as the NIA Court and we could find that he was presenting his case by maintaining decorum and in a proper manner,” it added.
Areeb Majeed has claimed that he was brought back to India with the help of the NIA and the Indian Consulate in Istanbul. He has been charged under section 125 of the IPC (waging a war against any asiatic power in alliance with the government of India) and sections 16 (punishment for terrorist act) and 18 (punishment for conspiracy) of the UAPA, LiveLaw has reported.
“I was 21 years old, I was moved by the suffering. I went there and was helping people there,” he had told the Court when asked why had he gone there. He also claims that he has been falsely accused of committing acts of terrorism by the authorities.
The Bombay High Court has imposed the condition that he reports to the local police station twice a day everyday for the first couple of months, once a day for the next two, thrice a week the next two and twice a week till the trial is completed. He has also been ordered not to make international calls or give any statement to the media.
The Special Court had granted him bail on March 17, 2020 which was subsequently stayed following an appeal by NIA.
