Jail psychiatrist helped LeT, cop leaked convict movements: NIA to Bengaluru court in radicalisation case

Bengaluru: A psychiatrist at the Bengaluru prison is accused of smuggling mobile phones to aid the activities of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), while an assistant sub-inspector allegedly leaked the movements of a high-profile prisoner. 

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) stated this in its submission to the special court on Wednesday after producing Anees Fathima, the mother of absconding accused Junaid Ahmed; psychiatrist Dr Nagaraj S, and Chan Pasha, an ASI posted at the City Armed Reserve (CAR), North Bengaluru. The agency sought the suspect's custodial interrogation.

The NIA announced arrests on Tuesday in connection with the Bengaluru prison radicalisation case. The arrests followed NIA searches at five locations in Bengaluru and Kolar. 

Special Public Prosecutor P Prasanna Kumar, appearing for the NIA, informed the NIA Special Court (CCH-50) that Fathima, the accused 10, from Sultanpalya, RT Nagar, "facilitated" money transactions with other accused. 

Kumar further told the court that Pasha, while discharging his duties at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, provided police escort details of accused 1 Thadiyantavida Naseer alias T Naseer, a life-time convict lodged in terror cases in the Bengaluru prison, to other co-accused and in return received illegal gratification. 

The SPP also told the court that Nagaraj helped other accused in smuggling mobile phones to Naseer, which in turn was used by other suspects to aid the LeT activities. Nagaraj was supported by one Pavithra in this activity, NIA officials previously said. 

After scrutinising the submissions, the special court remanded the three suspects in the NIA custody until July 14. The three were produced before the court by Susheela, DySP, NIA. 

The NIA took over the case in 2023 following initial investigations by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru police. In July 2023, the CCB raided a house in Kodigehalli and recovered seven country-made pistols, 45 live rounds of ammunition, walkie-talkies and some documents. 

Further investigations led the police to believe that radicalisation happened inside the Bengaluru prison.