Chargesheet filed against 18th HuT terrorist:NIA submits supplementary report in Bhopal court, framing additional charges against 5 other accused individuals

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against the 18th accused in the 2023 Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) terror conspiracy case in Madhya Pradesh. In addition, the agency has imposed fresh charges on five previously accused individuals. The supplementary chargesheet has been submitted before the NIA Special Court in Bhopal. With this, the NIA has now chargesheeted a total of 18 accused in the HuT case. The original chargesheet was filed on November 4, 2023, against 17 accused. Names included in supplementary chargesheet The supplementary chargesheet names: These individuals have been accused of carrying out acts of terror, including setting fire to a police officer’s car under the direction of foreign handlers. Action under UAPA and IPC According to the NIA, Mohsin Khan now faces additional charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Similarly, five other accused, who were already chargesheeted, now face added sections of UAPA and IPC for their expanded roles in the conspiracy. Case origin and ATS involvement The case was initially registered in May 2023 by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Bhopal, after receiving intelligence that HuT operatives were secretly recruiting Muslim youth across Madhya Pradesh and other parts of India. The recruits were allegedly being trained to overthrow the democratically elected government and establish a Sharia-based Caliphate in the country. Anti-democratic ideology and radical activities Investigations revealed that HuT operatives organized secret meetings disguised as religious gatherings, during which they propagated anti-democratic ideologies, spread communal hatred, and encouraged violent jihad. Members also reportedly underwent physical and tactical training resembling military drills, preparing themselves for future violent activities. Search for fugitives and foreign handlers continues The NIA stated that it continues to probe the larger HuT conspiracy, focusing on identifying absconding members, supporters, and foreign handlers. The agency aims to dismantle the group’s anti-India network, including its organizational structure and financial channels that support terror-related activities in India.