Three in NIA custody for ‘brainwashing’ muslim youngsters

Mumbai: A special NIA court on Wednesday remanded Rizwan Khan, Mohammed Hanif and Arshi Qureshi to National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody till December 7. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had arrested the trio for allegedly brainwashing Muslim youth to join banned terror outfit ISIS. However, with the NIA having taken over the case, it sought their custody for further investigation, which the court granted.

The NIA told special judge V.V. Patil that since it had taken over the case and wanted to probe further, it should be permitted to take custody of the three accused.

The NIA informed the court that the ATS had arrested the three and taken their custody, but their possible period of police custody was not entirely used and, hence, the court had the power to remand them to NIA custody for interrogation.

Advocate Sharif Shaikh objected to the NIA plea saying that the agency did not seek custody of the three till their bail application was filed.

He argued that the NIA was expecting that the three would be granted bail and, hence, instead of filing a reply to their bail plea, had come up with the request of taking them into custody.

Advocate Sharif opposed the NIA’s request on the grounds that custody of the three accused was being sought to create false evidence. However, the judge on Wednesday remanded all three to NIA custody till December 7.