Indian Mujahideen man channelized money from Pakistan for terror acts in India: NIA

Alleged key Indian Mujahideen operative Abdul Wahid Siddibapa is a cousin of Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal.

New Delhi: Alleged key Indian Mujahideen operative Abdul Wahid Siddibapa was on Wednesday charged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) with channelizing funds from Pakistan into India via Dubai for conducting terror activities in the country.

32-year-old Siddibapa, a resident of Bhatkal in Karnataka and a cousin of Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, was held at the IGI Airport here on May 20 after he landed from Dubai.

In its charge sheet filed before Special Judge Rakesh Pandit, the NIA said: "During the investigation, the role and involvement of the accused have been established as a channelizer of the funds received from IM operatives in Pakistan via Dubai for use by IM operatives based in India for conducting terror activities.”

The charge sheet added that the money was also regularly sent to the IM operatives lodged in jails and their families besides its absconding activists.

"Investigation has disclosed that the IM had extensively used Hawala channel for providing funds to its cadres in India," it said.

The charge sheet said, "From the probe, it is established that accused, as a member of proscribed terrorist organisation IM, entered into criminal conspiracy along with other co-operatives for commission of terror acts against Indian government, with intent to threaten unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of India and with intent to strike terror in people of India by causing death and injuries of people, and loss, damage and destruction of property."

"The accused voluntarily and actively participated in the conspiracy and made efforts to wage terror activities with intent to support and strengthen the conspiracy hatched by IM operatives.”

"The accused assisted the terror activities by means of channelizing the requisite funds meant for survival of the IM operatives and for the procurement of material required for affecting destruction with intent to strike terror in India, by causing death/injuries to persons and cause loss/damage to the property," the final report said.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had earlier filed two charge sheets in the case against several other accused including Yasin Bhatkal. The final report also said that the accused was strongly radicalised and was of the "jihadi mind" as he used to support the subversive activities carried out by the IM operatives at different places in India.

According to NIA's FIR lodged in September 2012, members of IM, in association with their sleeper cells based in the country and outside, were conspiring to commit terror acts by making preparations for targeting various important places in India, especially in Delhi, by causing bomb blasts with the active aid and support from their Pakistan-based activists and associates which amounted to waging war against India.

The court had on November 6, 2013, issued a non-bailable warrant against Siddibapa, which was extended from time to time to time, following which a Red Corner Notice was issued against him on December 3, 2013.

The charge sheet was filed against him under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC, read with several sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

(With PTI inputs)