A Nagpur court has acquitted eight Muslim men who were arrested in 2006 for alleged links with the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), citing lack of evidence, reported the Scroll.Judicial Magistrate A.K. Bankar observed that the prosecution had failed to establish any unlawful activities by the accused.
The court noted: “There is no evidence of participation in meetings, communication, propaganda, or financial support on the part of the accused.” It further clarified that mere possession of literature linked to a banned group does not prove guilt without clear intent or involvement.
The acquitted men – Shakil Warsi, Shakir Ahmed Nasir Ahmed, Mohammad RehanAtullakhan, Jiyaur Rahman Maheboob Khan, WakarBaig Yusuf Baig, Imtiyaj Ahmed Nisar Ahmed, Mohammad Abrar Arif Mohammad Kashim, and Sheikh Ahmad Sheikh – were in their 30s when arrested under UAPA and other Sections.
Police had claimed they acted on confidential intelligence suggesting SIMI links and had seized ‘incriminating materials’ from the men’s homes. However, the prosecution failed to present intelligence records, prove the alleged recoveries, or secure independent witness support. With witnesses unable to back the charges, the court acquitted all eight under Sections 10 and 13 of the UAPA.
Rights groups say the case reflects a broader pattern in India, where Muslim men are detained for years under harsh anti-terror laws, only to be exonerated after prolonged trials.