SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a second supplementary chargesheet against 3 more accused in the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case linked to the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit, further tightening the probe into a conspiracy aimed at orchestrating terror activities from within a high-security prison.
In its second supplementary chargesheet, the agency has named Anees Fathima, Chan Pasha A and Dr Nagaraj S under various sections of the IPC, UA(P) Act, Explosive Substances Act, Prevention of Corruption Act and the Karnataka Prisons Act, reads the NIA statement.
The NIA, which took over the case from the local police in October 2023, had earlier chargesheeted nine accused, including absconder Junaid Ahmed.
The case, originally registered by the Bengaluru City Police in July 2023, relates to the recovery of arms, ammunition and digital devices from habitual offenders who had allegedly planned to unleash terror in the city with the intent of disrupting India’s sovereignty and security. The activities, aimed at promoting the LeT’s interests, were part of a larger conspiracy to facilitate the escape of T Naseer, a life convict in several terror cases, while being escorted from prison to court. Naseer was an undertrial prisoner in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blast cases at the time.
Among the three accused chargesheeted on Friday, Anees Fathima has been identified as Junaid’s mother. She allegedly provided logistical support and funds to T Naseer inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, Bengaluru. She was also involved in handling hand grenades and walkie-talkies on her son’s directives and facilitated communication between various accused. NIA investigations further revealed her key role in harbouring accused Salman Khan and helping him abscond to Dubai by arranging his travel documents. Salman was subsequently extradited to India from the Republic of Rwanda.
Chan Pasha A, an Assistant Sub Inspector at the City Armed Reserve South, Bengaluru City, allegedly received illegal gratification from Salman for sharing information about the escort details of T Naseer, with whom he had connections while on prisoner escort duty.
Dr Nagaraj S, a psychiatrist on deputation at the Central Prisons Hospital, Parappana Agrahara, was allegedly involved in illegally smuggling mobile phones into the prison and selling them to inmates for cash. One of these phones had reached T Naseer, who used it to communicate with co-accused and conspire to promote the terror plot.
The NIA said it is continuing efforts to track absconders in the case RC-28/2023/NIA/DLI. (KNC)
