Renowned Pune doctor granted 10 days custody in ISIS module case

Dr Adnanali Sarkar

The special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been granted 10 days custody of Dr Adnanali Sarkar, a renowned Pune-based doctor and Islamic scholar, in connection with the Maharashtra ISIS module case busted earlier this month. NIA alleged that Dr Sarkar had links with ISIS and was associated with the five recently arrested accused. The agency has sent videos from his gadgets related to ISIS for forensic analysis.

During the court proceedings, NIA claimed that Dr Sarkar was summoned on July 21 but failed to provide satisfactory answers, leading to his arrest on July 27. The agency found certain videos on his laptop and is now investigating his connection with the alleged five accused and examining his phone.

In defence of Dr Sarkar, his lawyer Tahira Quraishi emphasised his reputation as a well-known anaesthetic doctor and Islamic scholar who delivered lectures on Islam. She stated that the accused, Zulfikar Bordewala, is Dr Sarkar's brother-in-law. Quraishi further added that the agency seized electronic devices, including a laptop, tablet, SIM card, and pen drive, during a house search.

Regarding the alleged videos, the defence lawyer clarified that Dr Sarkar did receive videos from one of the accused but did not comment on or circulate them. She asserted that downloading such videos is not a criminal offence. Quraishi also raised objections to the NIA's press note mentioning Dr Sarkar's name, which led to media attention and posed difficulties for his family, consisting of three senior citizens and four minor children.

The NIA had earlier stated that the accused had conspired to further ISIS terrorist activities, known by different names such as Islamic State (IS)/Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL)/Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)/Daish/ Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP)/ISIS Wilayat Khorasan/Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham Khorasan (ISIS-K).

The NIA court extended the custody of previously arrested accused Bordewala and Zubair Ali for two days. The public prosecutor representing NIA stated that Maharashtra ATS has recently arrested two accused linked with Al-Sufa, who were planning major attacks. NIA claimed that Bordewala and Ali have links with the accused arrested by Maharashtra ATS and suspects that they provided shelter and funds to other accused. The agency aims to establish any direct linkages or potential plans.

Ali's lawyer argued that the NIA and Pune ATS cannot simultaneously claim custody and suggested that progress in the probe be shown first. However, NIA argued that Ali and Bordewala's custody was needed to verify their potential connections with the newly arrested accused in the ATS case.