NIA files charge sheet in ISIS Chennai case against 12 accused

New Delhi:The Central terror probing agency NIA on Tuesday filed charge sheet against 12 accused in the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) Chennai case for fraudulent procurement and activation of SIM cards, which were used by the ISIS terrorists for their activities in India.

 The accused were booked under Sections 120B, 201, 465, 468, 471 and 34 of IPC, Section 25 (1A) of Arms Act and Sections 17, 18, 18B, 19, 38, 39 and 40 of UA (P) A NIA special Court. 

The NIA probe revealed that  after the release of key conspirator and ISIS terrorist Khaja Mohideen on bail in a case relating to the murder of a Hindu leader from Central Prison, Puzhal in February, 2019, he had conspired with one Liyakath Ali with the intention of furthering the activities of ISIS in India. 

They  procured large number of  SIM cards fraudulently activated by accused Pachaiyappan and accused Rajesh at Chennai, besides by  accused Anbarasan and Abdul Rahman at Salem between September and December, 2019.

''Khaja Mohideen had radicalised his associates Mohammed Haneef Khan, Imran Khan, Mohammed Zaid, Ejaz Pasha, Hussain Shariff and Mahboob Pasha of Bengaluru, on the violent extremist ideology of ISIS and conspired with them to further the activities of te proscribed organisation in India,'' the NIA said.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, Khaja Mohideen and Mahboob Pasha also procured through the co-conspirators, country-made fire arms and prohibited ammunition besides jungle camping equipment, pursuant to their intention to establish a wilayah (province) of ISIS near forests in South India with a view to wage violent jihad on behalf of the global terrorist organization, the probe agency added.

This case was originally registered at  Q Branch of  Chennai Police in Tamil Nadu on December 28, 2019 on a complaint filed by the mobile service provider Airtel's territorial sales manager at  Kancheepuram that some SIM cards were fraudulently activated using identity documents of various persons without their knowledge for unlawful gain. 

Investigation revealed that the SIM cards were activated in Chennai and during subsequent investigation, it was found that similar fraudulent activation of Vodafone SIM cards were also done at Salem. 

The fraudulently activated SIM cards procured from Chennai and Salem were provided to Khaja Mohideen, who used them for communicating with his co-conspirators and terror associates and for procurement of illegal arms and ammunition for preparing and perpetrating ISIS-  related terrorist activities in India, the NIA said, adding that further investigation in this case was continuing.(UNI)