Hyderabad-based man arrested on suspicion of alleged ISIS links granted bail

NEW DELHI: A Hyderabad-based man, alleged to be involved in chatting on Jihadi websites about the dreaded Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ( ISIS) and arrested here for possessing arms, was today granted bail by a Delhi court.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjay Khanagwal granted bail to 28-year-old Mohd Rahamath Pasha on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one surety of the like amount.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police had on October 5 arrested Pasha outside New Delhi railway station. He was allegedly found possessing two country-made pistols along with nine live cartridges.

According to police sources, Pasha used to chat on Jihadi websites about ISIS but during the investigation, it was found that he was not linked with the dreaded outfit which has created havoc by carrying out terror strikes in several countries, including the recent Paris attack.

In its FIR lodged against Pasha, the police has alleged that he was suspected to be involved in "anti-national and criminal activities".

During the arguments on the bail plea, advocate M S Khan, who appeared for Pasha, told the court that his client has clean antecedents and was not involved in any crime earlier.

Khan also said that Pasha has been arrested in the case lodged under the provisions of the Arms Act and as he was not required for any further interrogation, he should be enlarged on bail.

The police opposed his bail plea saying that illegal arms and ammunitions have been recovered from his possession.

According to the FIR, police had got a tip-off that Pasha would be coming to Delhi from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh and board AP Express from New Delhi railway station on October 5.

It said that on the basis of the information, a team was constituted which apprehended him while he was coming out of the railway station after deboarding the Garib Rath Express.

The FIR said that on searching his bag, two country-made pistols of .315 bore and nine live cartridges were found after which he was arrested in the case lodged under the provisions of the Arms Act.