SIMI case: HC acquits five convicted by NIA court

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday acquitted five persons convicted and sentenced by the Special Court for the National Investigation Agency in a case relating to holding a secret meeting of the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) at Panayikulam in Aluva in 2006.

The NIA court had sentenced the first and second accused to 14-year rigorous imprisonment, while three other accused were sentenced to 12 years of jail term under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 124A (sedition), and provisions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. As many as 11 accused were acquitted by the special court.

Those acquitted by the Division Bench headed by Justice A.M. Shaffique are Shaduly, alias Haris Abdul Karim, a native of Erattupetta (first accused), Abdul Rasik of Erattupetta (second accused), Anzar Nadvi of Aluva (third accused), Nizamuddin of Panayikulam (fourth accused) and Shammas of Erattupetta (fifth accused).

The prosecution allegation was that a secret meeting of SIMI was arranged by them at Panayikulam on August 15, 2006, which was attended by the other accused.

According to the prosecution, they had brought pamphlets containing seditious and inflammatory writing.

The accused in their appeals contended that there was no evidence to prove the meeting was convened by SIMI.