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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Delhi riots larger conspiracy case: Judge hearing case brought back after transfer
Arguments on charge in the 2020 Delhi riots larger conspiracy case will not be heard afresh as the judge, who was hearing the case for a year and a half, was brought back to the Karkardooma Court Wednesday after he was transferred. Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai was hearing arguments on charge, after the conclusion of which the trial of the case will begin, since September last year. Judge Bajpai was transferred to Saket Court at May end, and Additional Sessions Judge Lalit Kumar replaced him to hear arguments on charge afresh. On Wednesday, a new notification published on the Delhi High Court website stated that ASJ Kumar had been transferred to Saket Court, and ASJ Bajpai was brought back to Karkardooma Court, where the larger conspiracy case is pending. Out of the 18 accused arrested in connection with the case, 12 have been in jail for over four years. The accused are Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, Ishrat Jahan, Faizan Khan, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha (all six on bail); Tahir Husain, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Saleem Malik, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Athar Khan (all 12 in jail). From October to May 2025, five accused — including former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, Shifa Ur Rehman, and Safoora Zargar — had completed their arguments on charge. The prosecution also completed its arguments during day-to-day hearings. The Delhi Police Special Cell started investigating the alleged conspiracy behind the riots soon after they broke out. The police booked the 18 accused under relevant provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Indian Penal Code (IPC). The police argued that the 2020 Delhi riots were the result of a months-long 'deep-rooted' conspiracy allegedly hatched after the Citizenship Amendment Bill got a nod from the Cabinet in December 2019.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Once UAPA accused over Dawood ‘links', Sena (UBT) leader finds place in BJP ahead of Nashik civic polls
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Wednesday stepped in to defend the induction of former Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sudhakar Badgujar into the BJP, claiming there was no opposition to the same, including from state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule. Badgujar, once considered close to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, is a controversial figure who has been criticised by the BJP in the past over a video purportedly showing him dancing with Saleem 'Kutta', an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. Badgujar faced charges under the UAPA for this. On Tuesday, BJP MLA Seema Hiray publicly opposed Badgujar's induction into the party, while Bawankule and senior BJP leader Ravindra Chavan initially claimed 'no information' about it. Unhappy with the Sena (UBT), Badgujar had recently met Fadnavis. Another former Sena (UBT) leader, Babanrao Gholap, joined the party along with Badgujar. The induction was held at the BJP's Mumbai headquarters, with state minister Girish Mahajan attending a massive show of strength put up by Badgujar and Gholap. On Bawankule's unhappiness, BJP insiders said the state party chief blames Badgujar for the leaking of controversial photos featuring him back in 2023. The images purportedly at a casino in Macau were shared by Raut. A BJP leader said that while Bawankule tried to stop Badgujar's induction, 'Girish Mahajan pushed for it and went ahead anyway, since CM Fadnavis too was in favour'. Hiray has her own reasons for resisting Badgujar, having faced off against him – and defeated him – in the 2014 and 2024 Assembly elections from Nashik West. Party leaders say the tension between the two will reflect in the BJP's Nashik unit. Several local leaders feared the move weakens the BJP's stance on being uncompromising on law and order. However, others point to how this will hurt the Sena (UBT), with the Nashik area its bastion and civic polls coming up. Asked about Badgujar Tuesday, Hiray said: 'I was among those who had called him anti-national. There are serious criminal charges pending against him. He even contested against me. How can we welcome him into our fold now?' A successful contractor with considerable financial clout, a known public face in Nashik, and a three-term corporator who rose to become the Shiv Sena's Nashik district chief, Badgujar went with the Sena (UBT) in the party's split and hit the headlines in 2023 when BJP MLA Nitesh Rane accused Badgujar of sheltering Salim Kutta, an alleged associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and a convict in the 1993 Mumbai blasts. A video of Badgujar dancing with Salim Kutta at a private event also surfaced around that time. Following this, an FIR was registered against Badgujar under the stringent UAPA by the then Mahayuti government, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the matter. He was subsequently externed from Nashik district – a decision he is still contesting in court. The BJP used the allegations against Badgujar to attack the Sena (UBT). The matter became stickier for Uddhav Thackeray's party during the 2024 Assembly elections when rivals dug out that Badgujar's son Deepak had been booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in 2021 in connection with a murder case. While Badgujar's successive bids to break through into the Maharashtra Assembly were thwarted, he retained his influence in the party and city politics owing to his grassroots connections and strong knowledge of civic body administration. On June 4, soon after he had a meeting with Fadnavis to reportedly lobby for filling vacant posts in the Nashik Municipal Corporation, Badgujar was expelled from the Sena (UBT) over alleged anti-party activities. Then Badgujar's video with Salim resurfaced. Going on the offensive, the Sena (UBT) pointed out that at the aforesaid controversial event, several BJP leaders had also been present. Meanwhile Nitesh Rane, a former united Sena leader now in the BJP, called Badgujar a changed man. Having linked him with Dawood Ibrahim in 2023, Rane said Tuesday: 'Badgujar has been heading towards Hindutva… His son has also participated in morchas of Hindu organisations.' Fadnavis, who was part of the government that ordered the SIT in 2023 against Badgujar, pointed out Wednesday that no action had been taken or initiated against him. 'It is true that there were allegations against Badgujar and our Nitesh Rane also shared a video. However, after a probe was conducted, no action was taken. This is when he was in the Opposition. So there is no question about us giving him a clean chit because he joined the BJP… Now he is in the BJP, leaving his past, and should follow the ethics of the party,' the CM said. A former minister, five-time Deolali MLA and an influential Maratha face, Gholap's entry into the BJP was overshadowed by the row involving Badgujar. However, Gholap has been a familiar figure in Maharashtra's political landscape for over four decades, starting his association with the united Sena in the early 1980s. His career was hit by corruption allegations, with activist Anna Hazare's accusations against him of amassing disproportionate wealth leading to his resignation from the Cabinet in the late 1990s. Following a 13-year legal battle, Gholap and his wife were convicted by a Mumbai Sessions Court. In 2014, Gholap withdrew as the Sena's candidate from the Shirdi Lok Sabha seat due to the disqualification arising from the court ruling. Gholap has been out of the Sena (UBT) since February 2024, when he resigned claiming he had not been treated well by the leadership.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
J-K: SIA attaches property of Pakistan-based terrorist in Kupwara
Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 16 (ANI): In a major crackdown on terror infrastructure, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir Police has attached the immovable property of Pakistan-based terrorist Ab Hamid Lone, resident of Mawar Bala Qalamabad area in Handwara of Kupwara district. The attached property includes land measuring two Kanal three Marlas under Khasra No. 110-min and one Kanal 16 Marlas under Khasra No. 115-min. The action was carried out after due legal process and authorisation from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Kulgam and executed in the presence of an Executive Magistrate. Ab Hamid Lone, son of Ab Aziz Lone, is an absconding accused named in an FIR registered at police station SIA Kashmir. He is wanted for his involvement in multiple offences under sections 13, 17, 18, 21, 39, and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The SIA stated that Lone has been deliberately evading arrest to escape legal proceedings. This action represents a significant milestone in the continuing investigation into unlawful and anti-national activities in the region. It also reflects the SIA's unwavering commitment to neutralising terrorist threats, safeguarding national security, and upholding peace and the rule of law in Jammu and Kashmir. The SIA, in collaboration with other security and intelligence agencies, remains steadfast in its resolve to take stringent actions against individuals and entities involved in activities that threaten the sovereignty, integrity, and unity of the nation. Over a week ago, the Ramban Police attached property under Section 25 of the UAPA under the jurisdiction of Police Station Dharamkund, District Ramban, as per a release. In a significant move to combat terrorism, the Ramban Police attached a property-- agricultural land measuring 1 Kanal 11 marla, under section 25 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 (UAPA).Properties attached include the land measuring 1 Kanal 11 marla, registered in the name of one PoK settled militant Ali Mohd. The property has been duly recorded in revenue records, and notices prohibiting its sale or transfer have been served under the UAPA. (ANI)
United News of India
5 days ago
- United News of India
Property of Pakistan-based militant attached by SIA in Kupwara
Srinagar, June 16 (UNI) The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of J&K Police today attached the property of a Pakistan-based militant in Kupwara district, police said. The said property of Abdul Hamid Lone of Mawar Bala Qalamabad, Handwara was attacked following due legal process and with proper authorisation from the National Investigation Agency Court. The police statement said the immovable property attached includes over three Kanals of land. The accused, Lone, is an absconding terrorist wanted in FIR No. 02/2023 of Police Station CIK/SIA Kashmir, for his involvement in multiple offences under Sections 13, 17, 18, 21, 39, 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 'He has been evading arrest to avoid legal proceedings following his active participation in terrorist activities,' police said. The property attachment was executed in the presence of an Executive Magistrate, ensuring full compliance with statutory procedures. Police said this action represents a 'significant milestone' in the continuing investigation into unlawful and anti-national activities in the region.'The SIA, J&K, in collaboration with other security and intelligence agencies, remains steadfast in its resolve to take stringent actions against individuals and entities involved in activities that threaten the sovereignty, integrity, and unity of the nation,' police said. UNI MJR SSP
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
J&K SIA attaches property of Pakistan-based terrorist in Kupwara
Srinagar: As part of its continuing operation against terrorism, J&K's Special Investigation Agency (SIA) attached the property of a Pakistan-based terrorist in Kupwara district on Monday, officials said. A statement by SIA said that the attached property belongs to Abdul Hamid Lone, son of Abdul Aziz Lone, resident of Mawar Bala Qalamabad, Handwara, in Kupwara. "The immovable property attached comprises land bearing Khasra No. 110-min (02 Kanal 03 Marlas) and Khasra No. 115-min (01 Kanal 16 Marlas). The attachment has been made after following due legal process and with proper authorisation from the Hon'ble NIA Court, Kulgam," it said. It said that the accused, Abdul Hamid Lone, is an absconding terrorist wanted in FIR number 02/2023 of Police Station CIK/SIA Kashmir, for his involvement in multiple offences under Sections 13, 17, 18, 21, 39, 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). "He has been evading arrest to avoid legal proceedings following his active participation in terrorist activities. The property attachment was executed in the presence of an Executive Magistrate, ensuring full compliance with statutory procedures," the SIA statement said. 'This action represents a significant milestone in the continuing investigation into unlawful and anti-national activities in the region. It also reflects the SIA's unwavering commitment to neutralise terrorist threats, safeguard national security, and uphold peace and rule of law in Jammu and Kashmir," the agency said, adding that it, in collaboration with other security and intelligence agencies, remains steadfast in its resolve to take stringent actions against individuals and entities involved in activities that threaten the sovereignty, integrity, and unity of the nation. The SIA has been investigating some high profile terrorism linked crimes. It also investigated and subsequently presented a charge sheet in the court against the murder of advocate Babar Qadri, who was killed in his house in Srinagar city by terrorists on September 24, 2020. The SIA arrested and later charged the High Court Bar Association's former President in Qadri's murder.
