Bengaluru prison psychiatrist gave mobile phones and ASI security details to terror convict: NIA in court
The trio–Dr Nagaraj S, a psychiatrist employed at the Parappana Agrahara prison; Chan Pasha, an assistant sub-inspector with the City Armed Reserve (CAR) in North Bengaluru; and Anees Fathima, mother of absconding accused Junaid Ahmed–were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) prison radicalisation case of 2023.
Special Public Prosecutor P Prasanna Kumar, representing the NIA, presented detailed submissions before the NIA Special Court in Bengaluru. He submitted in the court that Fathima, designated as accused number 10 and residing in Sultanpalya, R T Nagar, played a crucial role in facilitating financial transactions between various accused persons in the conspiracy.
The prosecutor also argued that Pasha, while performing his official duties, illegally provided police escort details of Thadiyantavide Naseer, a life-sentence convict imprisoned for terror-related offences at the Parappana Agrahara prison, to his co-accused. In exchange for sharing this highly sensitive operational information, Pasha allegedly received illegal gratification from the conspirators.
Kumar further elaborated that Dr Nagaraj exploited his position as a psychiatrist to assist other accused persons in smuggling mobile phones to Naseer inside the prison. These communication devices were allegedly utilised by suspects to coordinate and support activities linked to the banned terrorist organisation LeT.
NIA officials previously indicated that Nagaraj received assistance from an individual named Pavithra in executing these smuggling operations. After reviewing the prosecution's submissions, the special court granted the NIA custody of all three suspects for six days until July 14. The accused were presented before the court by NIA DySP Susheela.
In July 2023, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru city police raided a house in Kodigehalli and seized seven countrymade pistols, 45 live bullets, walkie-talkies, and some documents. They said radicalisation was being carried out inside the central prison. The case was later handed over to the NIA.
The NIA has filed a chargesheet against nine accused, including Junaid Ahmed, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the UAPA, the Arms Act, and the Explosive Substances Act in the case.
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