NIA Chargesheets Three, Including Psychiatrist, in LeT-Linked Bengaluru Terror Conspiracy Case
Second supplementary chargesheet names Junaid’s mother, a prison psychiatrist and a police officer for aiding Lashkar-e-Taiba conspiracy to stage terror acts and facilitate escape of convict T Naseer.
New Delhi, Jan 2: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a second supplementary chargesheet against three accused, including a psychiatrist, in a 2023 Bengaluru terror conspiracy linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), officials said on Friday.
The chargesheet, submitted before a Bengaluru court on Thursday, names Anees Fathima, Chan Pasha A, and Nagaraj S under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosive Substances Act, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Karnataka Prisons Act.
The NIA had taken over the probe from Bengaluru City Police in October 2023 and had earlier chargesheeted nine accused, including absconder Junaid Ahmed. The case was initially registered in July 2023 following the recovery of arms, ammunition and digital devices from habitual offenders who were allegedly planning terror attacks in Bengaluru to undermine India’s sovereignty and internal security.
According to the agency, the accused were part of a larger LeT-backed conspiracy aimed at facilitating the escape of terror convict T Naseer during his transit from prison to court. Naseer was an undertrial in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blast cases at the time.
The NIA identified Anees Fathima, mother of absconding accused Junaid Ahmed, as a key conspirator who provided logistical support and funds to Naseer inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. She was also allegedly involved in handling hand grenades and walkie-talkies on her son’s instructions and acted as a communication link among the accused.
Investigations further revealed that Fathima harboured prime accused Salman Khan and helped him flee to Dubai by arranging travel documents. Salman was later extradited to India from Rwanda.
Chan Pasha A, an assistant sub-inspector with the City Armed Reserve (South), Bengaluru, allegedly accepted bribes from Salman Khan in exchange for sharing sensitive information related to Naseer’s prison escort arrangements, exploiting his prior connections during escort duty.
The third accused, Nagaraj S, a psychiatrist deputed at the Central Prison Hospital, Parappana Agrahara, allegedly smuggled mobile phones into the prison and sold them to inmates for cash. One such phone reached Naseer, enabling him to communicate with co-conspirators and further the terror plot, the NIA said.
The agency said further investigation into the wider conspiracy and remaining suspects is ongoing.
