A day after the tragic Red Fort car blast that claimed nine lives, the Supreme Court denied bail to a UAPA accused, Syed Mamoor Ali, declaring it the “best morning to send a message” against terrorism and extremist activities. Ordered 2 years to conclude the trial.
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NEW DELHI: A day after a car blast near Delhi’s historic Red Fort that claimed nine lives, the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday refused to grant bail to an accused, Syed Mamoor Ali, booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly conspiring to promote ISIS ideology and plan terrorist activities.
The matter was heard by a Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta, who made strong observations during the proceedings and upheld the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s earlier order denying bail.
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Supreme Court Observations
Appearing for the accused, Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave acknowledged the tense national mood following the Red Fort blast, saying,
“Not the best morning to argue this case after the events of yesterday.”
However, Justice Nath sharply responded,
“Best morning to send a message.”
The Bench appeared firm on sending a strong signal amid rising concerns over terror-related activities.
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The Court pointed out that inflammatory material had been recovered from the accused. When Dave clarified that it was merely Islamic literature, Justice Mehta observed that the accused had formed a WhatsApp group where a flag resembling that of ISIS was displayed.
Dave, however, emphasized that no RDX or explosive material was found in his client’s possession and that the accused was 70 percent disabled.
Despite these submissions, the Court held that the accusations were serious and declined to release the accused on bail.
While rejecting bail, the Supreme Court directed that the trial must be concluded within two years. It further stated that if the trial is delayed for reasons not attributable to the accused, he may reapply for bail.
Details of the Case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleged that Ali and the co-accused had:
- Formed a WhatsApp group named “Fisabilillah” with similarities to the ISIS flag.
- Planned to attack the Jabalpur Ordnance Factory to procure weapons.
- Prepared pamphlets resembling ISIS and Al-Qaeda flags and distributed them at a local mosque to influence like-minded individuals.
- Collected extremist material on digital devices, including the magazine “Voice of Khurasan”, which promotes jihad, martyrdom, and ISIS ideology.
- Used applications like Sherddit to delete incriminating digital evidence.
- Discussed funding their terrorist organization, suicide bombings, and martyrdom plans.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court had earlier noted that even though Ali is physically handicapped, terrorism based on ideology spreads through influence and incitement, making physical limitations secondary to the threat posed.
Charges Against Ali
Ali faces charges under multiple sections of the UAPA (Sections 13, 16, 17, 18, 18B, 20, 38, 39, and 40) and IPC Sections 120-B and 295-A. These pertain to:
- Criminal conspiracy
- Promoting enmity between religious groups
- Terrorist activities
- Preparation and planning of unlawful acts
Background
On October 22, 2024, at least 16 people were injured in an explosion at the Central Security Institute Ordnance Factory in Khamaria, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The blast, reportedly caused by a hydraulic system malfunction during bomb-filling in building 200 of the F-6 section, was powerful enough to be heard up to five kilometers away. Three employees are in critical condition and have been hospitalized. Locals initially thought it was an earthquake. Factory officials, including the general manager, have arrived at the site but have yet to release an official statement.
Case Title:
Syed Mamoor Ali @ Mamoor Bhai v. Union of India
SLP(Crl) No. 12739/2025