On Saturday, 7th November, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai convicted Dr Adnanali Sarkar in the Maharashtra ISIS terror module case and sentenced him to six years of rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of ₹65,000 on him, the NIA said in a statement.
Sarkar was convicted under several provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), including Section 13 (punishment for unlawful activities), Section 18 (conspiracy), Section 20 (membership of a terrorist organisation), Section 38 (offence relating to membership of a terrorist organisation) and Section 39 (support given to a terrorist organisation). He was also convicted under Sections 201 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for causing the disappearance of evidence and criminal conspiracy.
Conviction secured in Maharashtra ISIS Terror module case https://t.co/h67WiXdfbp
— NIA India (@NIA_India) November 8, 2026
According to the NIA press release, the case was registered suo motu by its Mumbai branch on 28th June, 2023, following information received from the Union Home Ministry about an ISIS conspiracy to threaten India’s unity, integrity, security and sovereignty.
The investigation uncovered a larger conspiracy involving international links and foreign-based ISIS handlers. The accused were involved in spreading the terror group’s extremist ideology, recruiting members, collecting funds for terrorist activities and circulating its propaganda magazines, including Voice of Hind and Voice of Khurasan.
Apart from Sarkar, the police charged five other accused in the case. They are identified as Tabish Nasser Siddiqui, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala alias Lalabhai, Sharjeel Shaikh, Aakif Ateeque Nachan and Zubair Noor Mohammad Shaikh alias Abu Nusaiba.
The special court framed charges against all six accused, who are currently in judicial custody. Sarkar has now been convicted and sentenced. “All six accused are in judicial custody. The trial against the remaining five will continue,” the NIA said in its statement.
NIA arrested doctor from Pune in July 2023
The NIA had arrested Sarkar, an anaesthesiologist, on 27th July, 2023, after conducting a raid at his residence in Pune’s Kondhwa area. This was the fifth arrest in the case. During the search, the agency revealed to have recovered electronic devices and documents related to ISIS.
NIA ARRESTS 1 MORE IN MAHARASHTRA ISIS MODULE CASE, TOTAL ARRESTS GO UPTO 5 https://t.co/0aBboS0wYW
— NIA India (@NIA_India) July 27, 2023
The NIA revealed that Sarkar was involved in promoting the terror outfit’s violent ideology and recruiting vulnerable youths. In its statement following the arrest, the agency said, “The material exposed the accused’s allegiance to ISIS and his role in promoting the outfit’s violent agenda by motivating and recruiting vulnerable youth.”
Before Sarkar’s arrest, the agency had arrested four other accused on 3rd July, 2023, from Thane. The NIA had received intelligence that the accused and their associates were recruiting young people and training them to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and weapons. The agency also said that they shared do-it-yourself (DIY) material and other instructions for making IEDs and manufacturing small weapons, including pistols.
