Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai of the Supreme Court has dismissed the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) appeal against the Kerala High Court’s acquittal of five Muslim men in a terrorism case.
This marked a significant moment as it was the first terrorism case in Kerala to be investigated by the NIA, the organization, often criticised by rights groups and opposition leaders for allegedly functioning as a state instrument to target minorities through draconian laws.
The case was known as the Panayikkulam terror camp case.
The five Muslim men, Nizamudeen, Razik Raheem, Shammas, Ansar, and PA Shaduli, were arrested back in 2006 for organizing a public meeting on the “Role of Muslims in Indian Independence.”
The NIA, in its chargesheet, alleged that this gathering was a secret meeting of the banned Students’ Islamic Movement of India in Kerala’s Panayikkulam.
In 2015, a special NIA court had sentenced Ansar and Razik to 14 years in prison for sedition, while Shammas, Shaduli, and Nizamudeen received 12 years each under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
However, four years later, the Kerala High Court acquitted all five men, citing a lack of evidence in their favor.
While Razik, Shammas and Nizamudeen are now free, Ansar and Shaduli are still in an jail because they have also been accused in cases related to the Jaipur blasts of 2008 and the Wagamon SIMI training camp of 2007.
“This is a big set back for the NIA, which has been accused of implicating Muslims in terrorism cases,” Razik Raheem, one the Muslim men cleared of terrorism charges, said to Maktoob.
“Ansar and Shaduli remain in custody on terrorism charges, and the current cases appear to be based on the Panayikkulam case. It is essential to review and consider dropping these other cases in the interest of justice and their possible release,” Raheem said.
 appeal against the Kerala High Court's acquittal of five Muslim men in a terrorism case.){kind=link}