Officials of the Maharashtra ATS and CID on Friday deposed before the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal constituted by the Centre to ascertain whether there was sufficient cause to extend the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The tribunal, presided by Justice Mukta Gupta of the Delhi High Court, began its hearing in Pune on the premises of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU).
Officials of the Maharashtra ATS and CID on Friday deposed before the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal constituted by the Centre to ascertain whether there was sufficient cause to extend the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The tribunal, presided by Justice Mukta Gupta of the Delhi High Court, began its hearing in Pune on the premises of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU).
ATS Superintendent Ravindrasinh Pardeshi, who supervises terrorism cases in Pune and 10 other districts in the state, has filed an affidavit before the tribunal justifying the ban on SIMI. While deposing on Friday, Pardeshi submitted information on the Mumbai local train bombings of July 2006, in which alleged SIMI operative Ethesham Siddiqui was convicted by court. He said that alleged terror operative Abdul Subhan Qureshi alias Tauqeer, arrested last year and allegedly involved in several terror cases including the 2006 Mumbai train bombings, was also associated with SIMI.
Besides, Pardeshi told the tribunal that Mirza Himayat Inayat Baig, convicted in the 2010 German Bakery blast in Pune, was convicted under the UAPA Act for his links with SIMI.
It may be recalled that a lower court in Pune had awarded death sentence to Baig. But the Bombay High Court set it aside and awarded him life imprisonment while convicting him under the Explosives Act. Moreover, Pardeshi told the court about the fake currency case of 2011, in which an alleged SIMI operative was arrested.
Also, Pardeshi submitted details of the bomb blast of July 16, 2014 near the Faraskhana–Vishrambag police station in Pune. Investigation and CCTV footage revealed the involvement of five alleged SIMI operatives. Three of the accused died in an encounter with police in Madhya Pradesh while two died in Telangana, he told the tribunal. Pardeshi said that information from MP police revealed these accused were SIMI operatives. Pardeshi told the tribunal that SIMI continued to indulge in terror activities even after 2014, so the ban on the outfit was essential.
Then DCP Ganesh Shinde of Special Branch (SB-1), CID, Mumbai City, also deposed before the tribunal, justifying the ban on SIMI. He cited a 2001 case from Dharavi in which an alleged SIMI operative was arrested and incriminating material like pamphlets in Urdu and other languages were recovered.
Shinde also cited a 2008 case in which a vehicle thief, Afzal Usmani, was arrested. Probe revealed that vehicles stolen by him were used for terror attacks by Indian Mujahideen operatives.
He also cited the conviction of SIMI general secretary Saquib Abdul Hamid Nachan under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in the 2003 Mulund train blast case. He then told the tribunal about a suspect, an alleged SIMI operative, arrested in connection with the 2002 Ghatkopar bomb blast, who was later discharged.
Justice Gupta then slammed the police officials for submitting details of cases in which the suspects were discharged and asked police to submit relevant information, mainly pertaining to SIMI’s terror activities after 2014. Advocate Rajesh Ranjan, counsel for Ministry of Home Affairs, submitted details of the “public notice” regarding the tribunal in various newspapers.
Justice Gupta said that none appeared on behalf of the organisation (SIMI).
Also, no public witness appeared before the tribunal, despite the public notice. The hearing will continue on Saturday.
ATS Superintendent Ravindrasinh Pardeshi, who supervises terrorism cases in Pune and 10 other districts in the state, has filed an affidavit before the tribunal justifying the ban on SIMI. While deposing on Friday, Pardeshi submitted information on the Mumbai local train bombings of July 2006, in which alleged SIMI operative Ethesham Siddiqui was convicted by court. He said that alleged terror operative Abdul Subhan Qureshi alias Tauqeer, arrested last year and allegedly involved in several terror cases including the 2006 Mumbai train bombings, was also associated with SIMI.
Besides, Pardeshi told the tribunal that Mirza Himayat Inayat Baig, convicted in the 2010 German Bakery blast in Pune, was convicted under the UAPA Act for his links with SIMI.
It may be recalled that a lower court in Pune had awarded death sentence to Baig. But the Bombay High Court set it aside and awarded him life imprisonment while convicting him under the Explosives Act. Moreover, Pardeshi told the court about the fake currency case of 2011, in which an alleged SIMI operative was arrested.
Also, Pardeshi submitted details of the bomb blast of July 16, 2014 near the Faraskhana–Vishrambag police station in Pune. Investigation and CCTV footage revealed the involvement of five alleged SIMI operatives. Three of the accused died in an encounter with police in Madhya Pradesh while two died in Telangana, he told the tribunal. Pardeshi said that information from MP police revealed these accused were SIMI operatives. Pardeshi told the tribunal that SIMI continued to indulge in terror activities even after 2014, so the ban on the outfit was essential.
Then DCP Ganesh Shinde of Special Branch (SB-1), CID, Mumbai City, also deposed before the tribunal, justifying the ban on SIMI. He cited a 2001 case from Dharavi in which an alleged SIMI operative was arrested and incriminating material like pamphlets in Urdu and other languages were recovered.
Shinde also cited a 2008 case in which a vehicle thief, Afzal Usmani, was arrested. Probe revealed that vehicles stolen by him were used for terror attacks by Indian Mujahideen operatives.
He also cited the conviction of SIMI general secretary Saquib Abdul Hamid Nachan under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in the 2003 Mulund train blast case. He then told the tribunal about a suspect, an alleged SIMI operative, arrested in connection with the 2002 Ghatkopar bomb blast, who was later discharged.
Justice Gupta then slammed the police officials for submitting details of cases in which the suspects were discharged and asked police to submit relevant information, mainly pertaining to SIMI’s terror activities after 2014. Advocate Rajesh Ranjan, counsel for Ministry of Home Affairs, submitted details of the “public notice” regarding the tribunal in various newspapers.
Justice Gupta said that none appeared on behalf of the organisation (SIMI).
Also, no public witness appeared before the tribunal, despite the public notice. The hearing will continue on Saturday.