Lucknow Terror Conspiracy Case 2021: Allahabad High Court Grants Bail To An Alleged Al-Qaeda Terrorist

The Allahabad High Court today granted bail to an alleged al-Qaeda terrorist who was arrested in 2021 in connection with a conspiracy to carry out a pressure cooker bombing in Lucknow. Earlier, the special NIA court had dismissed his bail plea.

The bench of Justice Attau Rahman Masood and Justice Saroj Yadav passed this order on the bail plea moved by the accused Mohd. Moeed. A detailed copy of the order is awaited.

Last month, his two co-accused were also granted bail by the High Court in view of the gravity of their 'unblemished' past antecedent and the gravity of the offences for which the trial is framed.

Essentially, in July 2021, the ATS arrested two terrorists belonging to Operation Ansar Gajwatul Hind organization from Lucknow named Minhaj and Bashiruddin on the allegation that they hatched a conspiracy to carry out a pressure cooker bomb attack in Lucknow on August 15, 2021. Later on the case was taken over by the NIA.

As per the NIA's case against them, Minhaj Ahmad was radicalized online by two Al Qaida terrorists based in Jammu and Kashmir. He had entered into a conspiracy with the other accused persons further recruiting members for Al-Qaeda affiliate AGH (Ansaar Gajwatul Hind) and for committing terrorist acts.

He recruited one Museeruddin into the Al Qaida fold and involved him in the conspiracy for committing terrorist acts in UP. Museeruddin and Minhaj Ahmad procured arms, ammunition, and explosive material and conducted reconnaissance of vulnerable areas for carrying out blasts with the intention to wage war against Govt. of India.

The other three accused Shakeel, Mohd. Mustaqeem and Mohammad Moid aided and abetted Minhaj and Museeruddin in procuring weapons and ammunition, thus becoming a party in furtherance of the conspiracy.

After the investigation in the case, a charge sheet was submitted before the special court and on examination of the entire material collected during the course of the investigation, prima facie, charges under Section 120B IPC and Section 25 (1B)(a) Arms Act were framed against them.

Appearances

Counsel for petitioners: Aarif Ali, Furkan Pathan

Counsel for Respondent: Shikha Sinha

Case title - Mohd. Moeed vs. State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home

Case Citation:2023 LiveLaw (AB) 116