The Madhya Pradesh High Court, Jabalpur Bench, recently tackled the dark realities of religious terrorism, underscoring its complex and deeply rooted nature. In a ruling that denied bail to an accused linked to ISIS, the Court emphasized that no religion, by its core teachings, supports violence or terror.
In its ruling, the Court pointed to the seriousness of the charges, which involved incriminating materials related to ISIS ideology, and the accused’s alleged role in propagating radical beliefs. The Court noted that the trial was progressing, making the possibility of bail less feasible given the circumstances.
The accused faced charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), with the Court highlighting the high threshold for granting bail in such cases. For bail to be granted, the Court explained, either the evidence must fail to establish a prima facie case or there must be an undue delay in the trial, violating the accused’s rights.
In this case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had uncovered a disturbing array of materials from the accused’s possession, including videos, audios, and documents promoting ISIS’s jihadist agenda. Further investigation revealed discussions in code related to ISIS, along with efforts to delete incriminating data.
The Court also referenced the NIA’s discovery of plans involving an attack on the Ordnance Factory in Jabalpur, reinforcing the gravity of the threat posed by the accused.
With significant evidence at hand, the Court ruled that the accused’s involvement in the conspiracy was clear, affirming that bail would not be granted at this stage.
