The Delhi High Court (HC) on Thursday granted bail to Mohd Shahzad Kamal, one of the accused in an alleged ISIS-linked terror-funding case, after he spent more than five years in custody.

Kamal is said to have allegedly been associated with Harkat-ul–Harb-E-Islam (HuHI), which the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has called an ‘ISIS-affiliated outfit.’ A case had been registered against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

A division bench of the HC, comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Arun Bhardwaj said while allowing Kamal’s appeal, “Bail granted.”

What were NIA’s allegations against Kamal?

As per the NIA, Kamal and other co-accused entered into a criminal conspiracy to execute terrorist acts and deliberately helped provide funds for ‘jihadi activities’ of HuHI, which the agency has termed a terrorist gang linked to the proscribed organisation ISIS.

The prosecution alleged that Kamal was radicalised and became associated with HuHI. He is accused of conspiring to arrange and channel terror funds from Saudi Arabia to support the module’s activities in India.

Furthermore, the probe agency alleged that Kamal transferred money on several occasions between February 2017 and January 2019 to co-accused Mohd Absar to finance terrorist activities.

Case dates back to 2018

The NIA registered case RC-38/2018/NIA/DLI on December 20, 2018, against Mohd Mufti Suhail and others in connection with the alleged ‘ISIS Delhi-Amroha module.’

A supplementary chargesheet had been filed against Kamal on October 26, 2021, invoking Section 121 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 17, 18, 39 and 40 of the UAPA. Kamal had been taken into custody on August 31, 2021. UAPA charges were framed against him on August 30, 2022.

HC overturns bail rejection

Kamal approached the Delhi HC after a special court rejected his bail application on May 29, 2024. A division bench of the HC, comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Arun Bhardwaj allowed his appeal on Thursday and granted him bail.