In a controversial operation on August 29, 2012, the CCB of Bangalore Police had arrested 11 youth from different locations in Karnataka on charge of allegedly plotting to kill a couple of Kannada journalists and political leaders linked with Hindutva organisations. Within few days, four more youth were picked up by CCB sleuths in connection with the same plot. The CCB then filed cases against 25 persons, out of whom 10 are shown as absconding.
However, the NIA, which took over the case three months ago, filed a chargesheet against 12 persons – 11 out of the 15 arrested and 1 from the absconders list- last week.
Of the 15 arrested, NIA had not filed charge sheet against four - Siddiqui, Nalaband, Mirza and Syed Tanzeem. Of the four, NIA had said there was no prosecutable evidence against Siddiqui and Nalaband and had dropped all charges against them, leading to their release from jail.
It had said that investigation was pending against him and had requested for more time to thoroughly probe his involvement. Syed Tanzeem was arrested only on November 4, 2012. Hence, NIA still has a month's time to file a charge sheet against him.
As the investigating agency failed to file a charge sheet against Mirza in the stipulated maximum timeframe of 180 days, his counsel Akmal Razvi and team moved for statutory bail for him at the NIA Special Court on Thursday.
NIA opposed the bail, pleading for more time to investigate him. Justice Somnath R Sindhagi, who heard arguments from both sides, granted bail to Aijaz.
He is expected to be released soon after the court order reaches the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, where he has been lodged.
The court has imposed two conditions for granting bail to Mirza - two security bonds of Rs 25,000 each have to be furnished; he should surrender his passport to the court.
He is the elder brother of Shoaib Ahmed Mirza, who the investigating agencies have alleged is one of the main conspirators in the Bangalore terror-gate. However, NIA has failed to find any prosecutable evidence against the elder Mirza.
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