As the legal proceedings against Areeb Majeed approach their conclusion, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) submitted a fifth supplementary chargesheet on Friday, detailing new allegations against him. Majeed is accused of traveling to Iraq and Syria in 2014 to join the Islamic State. This latest chargesheet includes an additional charge under Section 17 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, alleging that he facilitated funding for a terrorist organization.
Special Judge CS Baviskar acknowledged the chargesheet and instructed the NIA to provide a copy to Majeed. “The NIA has filed a fifth supplementary chargesheet, adding Section 17 of the UAP Act, 1969. The court takes cognizance of this additional offense, which is punishable under Section 17. A copy must be supplied to the accused,” the judge stated.
Section 17 of the UAP Act pertains to penalties for raising funds intended for terrorist activities. It addresses actions such as collecting, providing, or raising funds with the knowledge that they may be utilized, wholly or partially, by individuals or groups involved in terrorism, regardless of whether the funds were actually used for such purposes. The penalties under this section range from a minimum of five years to a maximum of life imprisonment.
The NIA’s investigation revealed that Majeed received $1,000 from a Kuwaiti national through a money transfer service while he was in Baghdad, Iraq. This detail is believed to be connected to the new allegations presented in the chargesheet, which was filed in court by special public prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves and NIA officials on Friday. The next court hearing is set for May 11, as Majeed, currently out on bail, requested time to prepare for his third-year law examinations.
Majeed faces trial under multiple sections of the law, including Section 16, which deals with punishment for terrorist acts, and Section 18, which addresses conspiracy. Additionally, he is charged under Section 125 of the Indian Penal Code, which penalizes waging or attempting to wage war against the government of any Asiatic power that is allied or at peace with India. Notably, the court had previously dismissed charges under Section 20 of the UAP Act, which related to Majeed’s alleged membership in a terrorist organization.
To date, 77 witnesses have testified in the case, with a few remaining before the trial can be finalized.
In May 2014, Majeed, then 21 years old, along with three companions from Kalyan, near Mumbai, departed for Baghdad, Iraq, supposedly for a pilgrimage, but reportedly joined the banned terrorist group instead. Majeed returned to India in November 2014, claiming he did so in coordination with Indian authorities, while the NIA asserts he returned for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities.
Majeed, who is representing himself in the trial, was granted bail in 2020 by a special court, with the decision upheld by the Bombay High Court in 2021, leading to his release. Recently, the NIA has sought to designate the other three youths involved, who are rumored to have died, as proclaimed offenders.
Sadaf Modak is an accomplished Legal Correspondent based in Mumbai, recognized for her expertise in the complexities of the judicial and correctional systems. Reporting for The Indian Express, she is a reliable source of in-depth information regarding courtroom proceedings and human rights matters.
As a dedicated Legal Correspondent, Modak possesses specialized knowledge of legal processes and statutes, enhancing her authority in the field. She primarily focuses on trial court proceedings in Mumbai, providing essential reporting on legal processes that affect citizens, while also addressing broader issues of social justice, including prison conditions, juvenile justice, and human rights.
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