Logo

Logo

# India

NIA slaps terror, murder charges on 10 accused in Antilia, Hiran cases

“Under the UAPA, the NIA has invoked sections pertaining to terrorism, terror conspiracy and being members of a terror group. These are very serious charges slapped on the accused and attract heavy punishment,”

IANS | Mumbai | September 3, 2021 7:51 pm

NIA slaps terror, murder charges on 10 accused in Antilia, Hiran cases

(representational image)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday slapped terror and murder charges against 10 accused in the sensational planting of a SUV with gelatin sticks near the house of industrialist Mukesh Ambani and the subsequent death of the vehicle owner Mansukh Hiran, officials said here.

The voluminous charge sheet, filed with the Special NIA Court in Mumbai, has named the 10 accused in the twin cases that rocked the nation after they came to light in February-March this year.

Advertisement

The accused are dismissed police officials Sachin H. Vaze and Vinayak B. Shinde, both from Thane, and Mumbaikars – Naresh R. Gor of Grant Road, Hisamuddin Kazi of Jogeshwari, Sunil D. Mane, Santosh A. Shelar and Manish V. Soni, all from Malad, Anand P. Jadhav and Pradeep R. Sharma, both of Andheri, Satish T. Mothkuri of Goregaon, said the NIA.

Advertisement

Taking a serious view of the twin cases which triggered a massive political row, all the accused have been slapped with Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to murder, cheating, conspiracy, besides various sections of the Arms Act, the Explosive Substance Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

“The NIA has taken a very strong cognizance of the case given its ramifications. Besides the serious charges under IPC, they have also invoked terror charges against the accused,” prominent criminal lawyer J.P. Mishra told IANS.

On the likely punishment, Mishra said that if proven guilty, the accused could face a maximum of life imprisonment since there was no explosion, and a minimum of life term or death sentence in the Hiran murder case.

The IPC sections span criminal conspiracy, destroying evidence to escape the consequences, negligence with explosives, abduction with intent to kill, extortion with threats of death or physical harm, grabbing property, criminal breach of trust by public servant, forgery and forging documents of electronic evidence to pass them off as genuine, possession of a fake seal to commit forgery, common intentions, etc.

“Under the UAPA, the NIA has invoked sections pertaining to terrorism, terror conspiracy and being members of a terror group. These are very serious charges slapped on the accused and attract heavy punishment,” Mishra said.

The NIA has also referred to the three cases originally filed by the Mumbai Police at Gamdevi Police Station on the Scorpio SUV with explosives, planted on the intervening night of February 24/25 and discovered on the afternoon of February 25, along with a threat note issued to the Chairman of a top business group.

It has also taken note of the FIR lodged by Vikhroli Police Station pertaining to the theft of the SUV and the death case registered by the Mumbra Police (Thane district) after Hiran’s body was recovered from the marshes of Thane Creek on March 5.

“During investigations, incriminating evidences came to fore against the 10 arrested accused involved in various stages of conspiracy of placing the explosive-laden SUV, its theft and commission of murder of Mansukh Hiran. Further investigations are on,” said an NIA official.

Advertisement

Related posts

# India

The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010. A division bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice P V Balakrishnan suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail to him after considering his appeal against the NIA court’s conviction in the case Considering the prolonged detention and citing the potential for trial delays, the court suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail, taking into account that some co-accused with similar allegations had already been released after serving shorter terms. The court noted that he had already spent nine years in jail and that delays in resolving appeals could justify suspending a convict’s prison term. It also observed that other accused in the case had received lesser sentences and had already been released after serving their terms. “The applicant has been undergoing incarceration, at the pre-conviction and post-conviction phases, for over 9 years. Furthermore, the fact that the accused facing the same allegations were earlier imposed a lesser term of imprisonment and have been released after having undergone the sentence is a factor that cannot be ignored. Additionally, the appeals filed by the NIA against the findings of the learned Sessions Judge are being considered in separate appeals, which have not yet been taken up. “There is also the likelihood of delay, as the prime accused has surrendered, and the learned Sessions Judge may have to take up the trial and dispose of it in accordance with the law and some of the original records may be required for that purpose. In view of these facts and circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that the sentence imposed on the applicant can be suspended pending the consideration of the appeal.” The court said The court, however, imposed strict conditions for Nasar’s bail. He is not supposed to provide a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties, refrain from leaving the country without the court’s permission, avoid interfering with the trial or witnesses, and not commit similar offences while on bail The gruesome incident dates back to July 4, 2010, when Joseph, a professor at Newman College, Thodupuzha, was returning from Sunday mass with his family, members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) attacked him, allegedly in retaliation for a question paper he set, which contained a passage that they claimed insulted Prophet Mohammed was derogatory. His right hand was chopped off in this attack. Nasar was accused of playing a critical role in the attack. Investigations revealed his involvement in recruiting gang members, assigning specific tasks, collecting funds, procuring communication devices, and maintaining communication links with key conspirators.

The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010.