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Strongly opposing the bail application of Hina Bashir Beigh, a Kashimiri woman held for having ISIS connections, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has told a Delhi Court that Hina and her husband Jahanzaib Sami were conspiring to utilise funds collected & received under garb of anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests, to instigate Muslims in India against Non-Muslims.

The NIA has claimed that the couple were instigating muslims to join ISIS and propagate as well as further the ideology of proscribed terrorist organization ISIS in India, through social media applications.

In the affidavit filed before the Patiala House Court's Additional Session Judge the NIA stated,

“They were also involved in raising, collecting, transferring and distributing funds to carry forward the ideology of the proscribed terrorist organisations ISIS/ISKP. The investigation established that the aforesaid acts of the accused persons are the culmination of an overarching conspiracy entered into by various entities based in India and other countries.”

The affidavit further stated that investigation revealed that the couple used various social media platforms including Facebook and Telegram in furtherance of their purpose of finding like-minded persons and for their brainwashing and recruitment for ISKP, a banned terrorist affiliate of the ISIS.

“For this purpose they had created a lot of email IDs and secured social media chat platform IDs to interact with the like-minded persons for sharing the contents, propagating the ideology of ISIS and ISKP. They used secured social media applications to propagate ISIS ideology and to radicalise youths for Jihad and anti-social activities in India,” It stated.

In March 2020, accused Hina Bashir Beigh, along with her husband Jahanzaib Sami and one other were arrested by NIA for allegedly promoting the Islamic State’s ideology and instigating protests against the CAA. The couple was held for having links to the Khorasan Module of ISIS. The three accused have been booked for charges of criminal conspiracy, sedition and provocation for causing riots under Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

In September 2020, the NIA filed a chargesheet against the couple. The chargesheet also accused them of conspiring to “utilise” the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act to instigate Muslims against the Centre.

Opposing the bail plea filed by Hina Bashir, the probe agency also submitted that she was in possession of pro-ISIS magazine ‘Voice of Hind’ which is full of seditious contents and incites Indian Muslims to take up violent struggle against Indian Government. It speaks against the system of democracy and advocates rule of Sharia to be established in India by adopting violence.

NIA added that investigation revealed that the applicant accused being a member of ISIS, she was in contact with several ISIS operatives & supporters through secured social media platforms. She was all set to find ways and means to mobilize people by spreading the ISIS ideology and also using such people to excite disaffection against the Government of India.

Strongly rejecting the bail application, NIA has prayed to the court that as the accused may jump the bail after her release and may further indulge in similar activities, the application should be dismissed.

The accused are booked under sections 120B, 124A, 153A & 201 of the IPC along with stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh, who was hearing the bail petition, adjourned the proceedings till September.