Bombay High Court denies bail to Jaish operative

The Bombay High Court in Nagpur has denied bail to Rayees Ahmad Sheikh, a suspected member of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Sheikh is accused of surveying the Hedgewar memorial, known as the RSS Smruti Mandir, in Nagpur. The court's decision was made by a division bench consisting of Justices Nitin Suryawanshi and Pravin Patil. They stated that there is strong evidence linking Sheikh to JeM, including his communications with a handler in Pakistan. The judges believe that his actions warrant continued imprisonment under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Sheikh, from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, was arrested in 2022. Prosecutors say he traveled to Nagpur in September 2021 to conduct reconnaissance for potential attacks on locations linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He allegedly planned to scout another location but changed his mind due to increased police activity. According to intelligence reports, Sheikh shared information from his surveillance with a Pakistani operative named Umar. He had previously been charged in Kashmir, where a live grenade was found with him. In court, the judges noted that Sheikh's actions could be seen as preparation for a terrorist act, which threatens the peace and unity of India. Sheikh's defense argued that there was no concrete evidence of his intent to commit a terror attack and claimed his presence in Nagpur was lawful. However, the prosecution countered that reconnaissance alone is enough to warrant prosecution under UAPA. They pointed out that Sheikh had no valid reason for being in Nagpur and provided evidence from local autorickshaw drivers and hotel staff about his activities. After thorough investigations, Sheikh remains in Nagpur Central Jail. The court deemed that his continued detention is necessary due to the serious nature of the charges against him.