8 months ago
Delhi Court Acquits Two in SIMI-IM Case
A court in Delhi has freed two men, Abdul Subhan Qureshi and Ariz Khan, who were accused of planning to bring back two banned groups, SIMI and IM.
The court said there wasn't enough proof to show they were involved in any wrongdoing.
The case started in 2014 after a blast in Bijnor, but the court found that the statements used against the men weren't valid.
The police had said the men were planning terrorist activities, but the court didn't find enough evidence to support this.
The men were arrested after a shootout in 2018, and the court decided to let them go because there wasn't enough proof to show they were part of any conspiracy.
The court also noted that the men were not found to be members of the banned outfits.
The men's lawyer said they are still in prison because they are being tried in other cases.
A Delhi court acquitted Abdul Subhan Qureshi and Ariz Khan, finding no evidence of their involvement in reviving SIMI and IM.
The court noted the absence of admissible material in the chargesheet to support the conspiracy charges.
The case was registered in 2014 following a blast in Bijnor, with allegations of planning terrorist activities in Delhi.
The main evidence against the accused, their confessional statements, was deemed inadmissible due to lack of discovered facts.
The court directed the release of both accused from judicial custody, as no grave suspicion of their involvement was found.
- Who
- Abdul Subhan Qureshi and Ariz Khan
- What
- Acquittal in a case involving alleged conspiracy to revive SIMI and IM
- Where
- Delhi court
- When
- December 20
- Why
- Lack of admissible evidence to support the charges
Prosecution
Defense
Evidence
Prosecution
The prosecution relied on confessional statements and the accused's past criminal cases to build their argument.
Defense
The defense argued that the confessional statements were inadmissible and there was no other evidence to support the charges.
Membership in Banned Outfits
Prosecution
The prosecution alleged that the accused were members of SIMI and IM and were involved in a conspiracy to revive these outfits.
Defense
The defense maintained that there was no evidence to prove the accused were members of these outfits or involved in any conspiracy.
Key facts
- Accused
- Abdul Subhan Qureshi and Ariz Khan
- Charges
- Conspiracy to revive SIMI and IM
- Court
- Additional Sessions Judge (Patiala House Court) Amit Bansal
- Date of Acquittal
- December 20
- Case Registration Year
- 2014
- Acts Violated
- Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code
- Key Evidence Issue
- Inadmissible confessional statements
- Arrest Details
- Qureshi arrested in January 2018 after a shootout, Ariz arrested near Indo-Nepal border in February 2018
Timeline
Delhi High Court: Advocates aren't witnesses.
Then, Delhi court cites ruling in Qureshi, Khan case.
Influence: Acquittal follows high court's stance.
Stayed CBI summons to lawyer in similar case.
Qureshi, Khan acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
Quotes
Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal
Judge presiding over the case at Patiala House Courts
“In the said circumstances, there is absolutely no admissible material on record in the charge sheet of the present case to show or raise a grave suspicion against both the accused persons that they entered into a conspiracy to revive activity of banned terrorist organisation SIMI and IM in India, or that they were members of the said banned terrorist organisations SIMI and IM, or that they entered into any conspiracy against the sovereignty and security of India in order to set up the base of the said terrorist outfits in India.”
indianexpress.com
“Brief facts as mentioned in the charge sheet for that purpose are that after an accidental blast in Bijnor on September 12, 2014, efforts were renewed in Delhi and bordering districts of UP to extract information regarding the absconding SIMI terrorist and their contacts/ sympathisers. On October 20, 2014, source information was received that the accused involved in Bijnor accidental blast were also moving along with SIMI suspects and were planning to carry out terrorist activities in Delhi and adjoining areas.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
Nothing to show membership of IM, SIMI or plot: Court on terror suspect
SIMI-IM case: Delhi court acquits 2 accused, finds no evidence of terror conspiracy
‘Trial court erred in conviction’: Allahabad HC acquits man who spent 24 years in jail in dacoity case
Cops charged 2 men with reviving Indian Mujahideen, SIMI. Why Delhi court has ordered their release
