NIA Court Rejects Discharge Plea of Aakif Nachan in Pune ISIS Recruitment Case A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai has denied a plea by Aakif Nachan to discharge him in connection with the Pune ISIS recruitment and radicalisation module. The court stated that Nachan was allegedly actively involved in radicalising youth and providing logistical support to suspects wanted in other states for terrorist activities. The prosecution alleged that Nachan played a role in recruiting youths and training them in the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and small arms. According to the prosecution, Nachan and his associates, under the direction of foreign-based ISIS handlers, shared materials including DIY kits to further the group's objectives. The court noted that the suspects also created media content published in the magazine Voice of Hind to promote the activities of the proscribed organisation. Nachan, however, claimed he had been falsely implicated and argued that no evidence existed to prove his involvement. His legal counsel contended that mere communication with a co-suspect would not constitute criminal liability under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) without sufficient proof of actual participation. The court rejected Nachan's defense, emphasizing that his actions—such as distributing materials to radicalise Muslim youths—constituted abetting ISIS's goal of establishing a Khilafat. The court highlighted that the evidence presented "prima facie falsify the claim of this accused that he is a law-abiding citizen and is innocent." It also noted that Nachan was a close aide to Saquib Nachan, the self-styled "Amir-e-Hind" of ISIS, further underscoring his alleged role in the organisation's activities.#nial_court #aakif_nachan #pune_isis_recruitment_case #voice_of_hind #unlawful_activities_prevention_act
