Orissa high court orders expedited trial for terrorism suspect Md Abdur Rehman

Cuttack: Orissa high court has directed the sessions judge, Cuttack, to expedite the trial of Md Abdur Rehman, accused of propagating anti-national ideology and recruiting youths for terror groups, including Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS) and Indian Mujahideen (IM), in a 2016 case.Rehman, a resident of Paschimkachha under Salepur in Cuttack district, was first arrested in Dec 2015 by a joint team of Delhi and Odisha police following intelligence inputs linking him to radicalisation and recruitment of youths for extremist activities. In Feb 2023, a Patiala House court in Delhi convicted Rehman and three others — Mohd Asif, Zafar Masood and Abdul Sami — under sections 18 (conspiracy for terror acts) and 18B (recruitment for terror acts) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

He was sentenced to seven years and five months of rigorous imprisonment, a term he has completed.However, Rehman continues to remain in custody in connection with a second UAPA case filed by Odisha police. His bail plea under Section 483 of the BNSS came up before the bench of Justice Gourishankar Satapathy, who dismissed it on Nov 11. The order was uploaded on Nov 14. While rejecting bail, the bench urged the trial court to fast-track proceedings.

“Looking at the custody period of the petitioner, the trial court is requested to expedite the trial and dispose of the case as expeditiously as possible,” Justice Satapathy said.Rehman had sought bail solely on grounds of prolonged incarceration. However, Justice Satapathy observed that the allegations were “not only serious, but also grave”. With 38 witnesses examined and the case still pending, Justice Satapathy said Rehman had failed to meet the requirements of Section 43-D(5) of the UAPA, adding that “the allegation against the petitioner for his links with Al-Qaeda… having ramification over national security” made granting bail inappropriate.Rehman is facing trial for multiple offences under the UAPA and IPC, including charges of sedition and terrorism-related activities. Odisha police have accused him of allegedly “propagating anti-national campaign by influencing the local people”. Police claimed that Rehman and associates had been running madrassas in Bilteruan and nearby areas, teaching around 80 students from Jharkhand and other states, but “he is mainly propagating anti-national ideology in the minds of innocent students with a view to engage them in anti-national activities”.Police further alleged that Rehman was recruiting youths from the madrassas for organisations such as AQIS and IM, and that “previously some youths have already been recruited by him… and he is also receiving money from foreign sources in the form of donation” in the name of madrassas.