Will file charge sheet against suspected IM men: NIA to court

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency ( NIA) today told a Delhi court that it would file this week its charge sheet against suspected top Indian Mujahideen ( IM) men Tehsin Akhtar and Zia-ur-Rahman for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to carry out terror activities in India.

During an in-camera proceeding, the agency told this to District Judge I S Mehta who today extended till September 25 the judicial custody of Akhtar, Zia-ur-Rahman and alleged IM operative Faizan Ahmed Sultan in connection with the case.

According to sources, the NIA told the court that their probe into the case against Akhtar and Pakistani national Zia-ur-Rahman was over and they would file a supplementary charge sheet against them within this week.

Akhtar was arrested on March 25 near Indo-Nepal border in Darjeeling district of West Bengal while Zia-Ur-Rahman was apprehended outside Ajmer railway station on March 22 by the Special Cell of Delhi Police. The NIA had later taken their custody in connection with the case.

Sultan was arrested by the NIA on May 2 at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here after he was deported from Sharjah.

According to the NIA, Sultan was wanted in various cases here for allegedly conspiring to wage a war against the country, raising funds for terrorist acts and recruitment of persons for the banned outfit.

An Interpol Red Corner notice was issued against him to secure his provisional arrest in Sharjah.

The special court had earlier allowed the NIA's plea seeking extension of time by three more months to complete its probe against Tehsin and Zia-Ur-Rahman in the case.

The agency had filed two charge sheets in the case against nine suspected IM operatives, including its co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and his close aide Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi, who were arrested by the NIA on August 28, 2013 in the case relating to a larger conspiracy of IM to carry out terror activities across the country.