Mohsin Shaikh sent to judicial custody

A special NIA court on Thursday remanded Mohsin Shaikh to police custody for eight days. Shaikh, a resident of Malvani, Malad had allegedly left home to join ISIS last year but the Delhi police had arrested him and now the NIA has brought him to Mumbai.

The NIA has claimed that Shaikh has been involved in instigating and influencing Muslim youths in Malvani on the instructions of his handlers based in Syria. The investigating officers sought his custody for 10 days saying they need to retrieve all his chat records. The police alleged that he was in touch with the boys and his handlers in Syria via social media and they need to retrieve all the conversations.

The NIA also said that he had provided logistical support to another accused, Rizwan, during his visit to Mumbai and arranged for his accommodation and a SIM card.

Shaikh, along with two others, had gone missing in December last year and they wanted to join ISIS. This happened after another youth Ayaz Sultan went missing in October. Sultan reportedly reached Syria and joined ISIS.

The NIA had arrested Shaikh in Delhi in February by the local police and the case was transferred to NIA. While another case was registered in Mumbai NIA against him the local court had issued production warrant against him after which he was brought from Delhi.

Advocate Sharif Shaikh on behalf of accused opposed the NIA application and said that the Delhi police had already interrogated him and there was no need for further interrogation. However, special judge V.V. Patil allowed NIA application and said, “It is alleged against the present accused that he was inducing and instigating innocent Muslim youths to join in ISIS at Iraq and Syria through social media. In my view a detail investigation in such crime is necessary to unearth the truth.”

The court then remanded Mohsin to NIA custody till June 23.