Read Time: 06 minutes

Synopsis

In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, has convicted Mohammad Rashid, a resident of Varanasi for espionage activities favouring Pakistan. The court sentenced Rashid to six years of rigorous imprisonment upon finding him guilty of transmitting photographs and videos of critical Indian military and strategic installations to operatives associated with the Pakistani defence mechanism and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The case, initiated by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, on January 19, 2020, was later taken over by the NIA on April 6, 2020. Rashid, along with another individual, Rajakbhai Kumbhar, who was charge-sheeted in February 2021, faced allegations of transmitting photographs and videos of critical Indian installations and military movements to Pakistani agents.

The special NIA court handed down a multifaceted sentence to Mohammad Rashid for his espionage activities. Under section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which deals with the punishment for the offence of criminal conspiracy, he was sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000, with the alternative of an additional one-month imprisonment if the fine is not paid. For violating section 123 (Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war) of the IPC, Rashid received a five-year rigorous imprisonment sentence along with a similar fine and default condition. Most notably, under section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which provides with the punishment for attempting, abetting, facilitating or inciting the commision of terrorist acts, he was sentenced to six years of rigorous imprisonment, accompanied by a Rs 2,000 fine or an additional one-month imprisonment in case of non-payment. The court ruled that these sentences would run concurrently, consolidating Rashid's total prison time.

The investigation revealed Rashid's deep involvement in sharing critical information about India's defence readiness with Pakistani agents. This included detailed photographs and videos of strategic locations and the movement of Indian military and paramilitary forces. Moreover, Rashid was found to have facilitated the Pakistani ISI's operations by providing Indian SIM cards and assisting in the activation of WhatsApp accounts, thus aiding in the commission of terrorist acts. "It was also found during investigations that the accused had aided and abetted a conspiracy hatched by Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agents for the commission of terrorist acts," the spokesperson said.

It was highlighted that Rashid's activities were part of a broader conspiracy aimed at undermining Indian national security, orchestrated by the ISI. The spokesperson stated that, "Rashid frequently reset his mobile phone and WhatsApp to delete logs and digital footprints, an act indicative of his awareness and deliberate intent to subvert Indian security.”

In addition to his espionage activities, the NIA disclosed that, "As part of the conspiracy, he had received funds and gifts from the ISI agents for supply of the information, including photos and videos of places of strategic, tactical and religious importance.”

The agency's spokesperson also confirmed that the trial for the remaining accused is in progress.

Source - PTI