Delhi News: Delhi's Patiala House Court frames charges against 9 terrorists under UAPA, one Kashmiri youth acquitted

While framing charges against nine accused in the case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the case related to the online propaganda of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) ideology, the Patiala House The Sessions Court has made important remarks.

Principal District and Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma said that keeping jihadi literature with particular religious philosophy will not be an offense unless any material is produced regarding the commission of terrorist acts. The court said that mere possession of such literature cannot be termed as an offence, as such literature is not prohibited under any provision of law. Such a proposal is against the freedoms and rights guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution.

The court made this observation while framing the charge against the accused Obaid Hamid Matta under sections 2(o) and 13 of the UAPA. The court said that simply because Matta was looking for or was reading some radical Islamic literature. It is not tantamount to committing any crime. However, he was involved in the commission of unlawful activities and hence has committed offenses under Section 2(o) as well as Section 13 of the UAPA Act.

Apart from Obaid Matta, the court also arrested nine accused Mushab Anwar, Rees Rashid, Mundadiguttu Sadananda Marla Deepti, Mohd related to Kerala, Karnataka and Kashmir. Charges were framed against Waqar Lone, Miza Siddiqui, Shifa Haris, Obaid Hamid Matta and Ammar Abdul Rahiman under Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 2 (o), 13, 38 and 39 of the UAPA.