Supreme Court Denies Bail to Suspected ISIS Associate in Madhya Pradesh, Cites 'Ring of Terror' Allegations

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The Supreme Court has rejected a bail plea from a man accused of having ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), citing serious allegations of trying to create a 'ring of terror' in India. The decision was made a day after a deadly blast near Delhi's Red Fort, which killed 12 people. In a hearing, the court observed that it was the 'best morning to send a message' on the matter. The court was considering a plea from Syed Mamoor Ali, who was denied bail by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in January. The case against Ali involves allegations of offenses under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He was arrested in May 2023 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after an investigation revealed that he had been gaining knowledge about comparative religions through videos of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik during the COVID-19 pandemic. The court questioned the petitioner's counsel about the recoveries made in the case, with the counsel stating that there were no explosive materials recovered, only Islamic literature. The bench noted that charges were framed against Ali and that there was a prima facie case against him. The court refused to grant bail to Ali, but directed the trial court to conclude the trial within two years. It also stated that if the trial is not completed within the given timeframe, Ali can revive his bail plea. The high court had noted that the accused was associated with the ISIS and was in possession of incriminating documents and pamphlets containing a flag similar to that of the terror organisation. The court had also alleged that Ali and others conspired to attack an ordnance factory in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur to procure weapons for the ISIS' activities.