Mumbai: Interim bail plea of software engineer held in 2014 for terror plot rejected

Photo for representational purpose

A Mumbai court has rejected the interim bail application of Anees Ansari, a software engineer who was held in 2014 for allegedly conspiring to blow up US establishments in the metropolis.

Ansari had sought temporary bail citing the coronavirus outbreak, but his plea was rejected by Additional Sessions Judge SH Gwalani on Friday.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad told the court that Ansari, while working as an associate geographic technician at a private company, had set up a false

Facebook account and published objectionable information using the company's computer. He had also supported the activities of terror group ISIS, the agency further told court.

The court observed that material in the charge sheet disclosing a conversation between the accused and one Omar Elhaji was sufficient to show the intention of causing terror in the country.

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Considering the attitude of the accused, he is not entitled to bail, the court said in its order on Friday, the detailed copy of which was made available on Saturday.

The court observed that the accused was well-educated and intelligent, but there was a possibility that he could indulge in action that may cause obstruction to the prosecution's case if released on bail.

It also said Ansari was a young man without comorbidities and, therefore, there was no need to consider the application at this juncture.

Ansari was held from his office in October, 2014 by the state ATS and charged under section 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) read with 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code as well as relevant sections of Information Technology Act.

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