HC acquits three Muslims in 2012 Bengaluru ‘terror conspiracy’ case
Bengaluru: In acquitting three Muslims, including a Pakistani national, serving life sentences in the 2012 Bengaluru ‘terror conspiracy’ case, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday found a procedural flaw in the prosecution sanction granted by the state government.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a division bench, consisting of Justice Sreenivas Harish Kumar and Justice J M Khazi, acquitted them from charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) related to the conspiracy allegedly plotted inside Bengaluru central prison.
The accused – Syed Abdul Rehman from Bengaluru, Afsar Pasha alias Khushiruddin from Chintamani in Kolar district, and Mohammed Fahad Khoya from Karachi, Pakistan – were charged under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
However, while acquitting them of these charges, the court upheld Syed Abdul Rehman’s conviction under the Arms Act, of 1959, and the Explosive Substances Act, of 1908.
Syed Abdul Rehman was found guilty of illegal possession of a revolver and concealing explosives, leading to a revised sentence of 10 years imprisonment, the report said.
The division bench allowed the petitions filed by Pasha and Khoya challenging their 2023 conviction and life imprisonment sentence.
However, the bench only modified Rehman’s conviction under the lesser offenses of the Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act.
