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beardedmrbean · 2 years

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Shamima Begum, who fled the UK and joined the Islamic State group, was smuggled into Syria by an intelligence agent for Canada.

Files seen by the BBC show he claimed to have shared Ms Begum's passport details with Canada, and smuggled other Britons to fight for IS.

Ms Begum's lawyers are challenging the removal of her citizenship, arguing she was a trafficking victim.

Canada and the UK declined to comment on security issues.

Ms Begum was 15 when she and two other east London schoolgirls - Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase - travelled to Syria to join the IS group in 2015.

At the main Istanbul bus station, the girls met Mohammed Al Rasheed, who would facilitate their journey to IS-controlled Syria.

A senior intelligence officer, at an agency which is part of the global coalition against IS, has confirmed to the BBC that Rasheed was providing information to Canadian intelligence while smuggling people to IS.

The BBC has obtained a dossier on Rasheed that contains information gathered by law enforcement and intelligence, as well as material recovered from his hard drives, which provide extraordinary detail about how he operated.

He told authorities that he had gathered information on the people he helped into Syria because he was passing it to the Canadian embassy in Jordan.

Shamima Begum cannot return to UK, court rules

Rasheed, who was arrested in Turkey within days of smuggling Ms Begum to IS, told authorities he had shared a photo of the passport the British schoolgirl was using.

The Metropolitan Police were searching for her, although by the time Canada received her passport details, Ms Begum was already in Syria.

The dossier shows that Ms Begum was moved to Syria through a substantial IS people-smuggling network that was controlled from the group's de-facto capital in Raqqa.

Rasheed was in charge of the Turkish side of this network and facilitated the travel of British men, women and children to IS for at least eight months before he helped Ms Begum and her two friends.

Ms Begum told the BBC's forthcoming I'm Not A Monster podcast: "He organised the entire trip from Turkey to Syria… I don't think anyone would have been able to make it to Syria without the help of smugglers.

"He had helped a lot of people come in… We were just doing everything he was telling us to do because he knew everything, we didn't know anything."

Rasheed kept information about the people he helped, often photographing their ID documents or secretly filming them on his phone.

One recording shows Ms Begum and her friends get out of a taxi and into a waiting car not far from the Syrian border.

Rasheed also gathered information about IS, mapping the locations of the homes of Western IS fighters in Syria, identifying IP addresses and locations of internet cafes in IS-controlled territory, and taking screenshots of conversations he was having with IS fighters.

In one conversation, Rasheed spoke to a man believed to be notorious British IS fighter and recruiter, Raphael Hostey, who says to him: "I need you to work under me. Officially… I want you to help us bring people in."

In a follow-up text, Rasheed asks Hostey: "Can you explain a little, please?"

Hostey says: "Same thing that you're doing now, but you work for us bringing equipment, bringing in brothers and sisters". Mohammed Al Rasheed replies: "I am ready, brother."

Rasheed was arrested in the Turkish city of Sanliurfa not long after he had facilitated the girl's journey to Syria.

In a statement to law enforcement, he said that the reason he had gathered information on everyone he had helped, including Shamima, was because "I was passing this information to the Canadian embassy in Jordan".

Rasheed said that in 2013 he had gone to the Canadian Embassy in Jordan to try to apply for asylum. He said: "They told me they were going to grant me my Canadian citizenship if I collect information about the activities of ISIS."

The BBC has been able to confirm that Rasheed passed in and out of Jordan multiple times between 2013 and his arrest in 2015.

Tasnime Akunjee, the lawyer for the Begum family, said there will be a legal hearing in November to challenge the removal of Ms Begum's citizenship and "one of the main arguments" will be that then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid did not consider that she was a victim of trafficking.

"The UK has international obligations as to how we view a trafficked person and what culpability we prescribe to them for their actions," he said.

Mr Akunjee said it was "shocking" that a Canadian intelligence asset was a key part of the smuggling operation - "someone who is supposed to be an ally, protecting our people, rather than trafficking British children into a war zone".

"Intelligence-gathering looks to have been prioritised over the lives of children," he said.

Shamima Begum is now held in a detention camp in north-east Syria, her citizenship was taken away in 2019 after she emerged from the ashes of the so-called IS caliphate.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said intelligence services needed to be "flexible" and "creative in their approaches" to fight terrorism, but "they are bound by strict rules".

"We will continue to ensure that proper oversight is done, and as necessary look at further steps", he added, while speaking at a press conference in Ottawa.

A Canadian Security Intelligence Service spokesman said he could not "publicly comment on or confirm or deny the specifics of CSIS investigations, operational interests, methodologies or activities".

A British government spokesperson said: "It is our long-standing policy that we do not comment on operational intelligence or security matters."

#nunyas news #cool story #she still joined isis though #she wasn't forced to do that #so it should have no baring on her current situation

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telanganasena · 20 days

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Sudden Demise of Vigilance DG Rajeev Ratan IPS

What Happened to Vigilance DG Rajeev Ratan? The sudden demise of Vigilance DG Rajeev Ratan has left many shocked and saddened. Rajeev Ratan, a senior IPS officer, passed away unexpectedly. Reports indicate that he was rushed to the AIIMS hospital in the city early in the morning due to a cardiac arrest. Despite receiving medical attention, he couldn’t be revived. Rajeev Ratan had previously…

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24-facts-news · 2 months

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Senior police officer thrashed, abducted by ‘armed miscreants’ in Imphal, rescued after 2-hr op

New Delhi: The additional superintendent of police (operations) posted in Manipur’s Imphal (West) was thrashed and abducted by “unknown armed miscreants” — suspected to be from the radical armed Metei group, Arambai Tenggol — from outside his home Tuesday evening, ThePrint has learnt.

An AK47 was snatched from an inspector-rank officer attached to the SP and his driver’s nose was also broken by the crowd, a police source said.

The officer, M. Amit, was, however, rescued by a police team led by senior officers in a two-hour-long operation, police sources said.

Manipur security adviser Kuldiep Singh IPS (retd), told ThePrint that the officer, who sustained injuries, has been rescued and a case has been registered in this regard.

“Armed miscreants attacked the house of the officer and abducted him. Soon after, a specialised police team led by senior officers swung into action and carried out raids across the district and managed to rescue him. The officer is injured but he is doing fine. We are carrying out raids to nab the accused involved,” Singh said.

According to a police source, the officer’s house was attacked and he was abducted to put pressure on the police to release a few armed members of the Arambai Tenggol who were arrested Tuesday morning.

‘A chase, abduction’

According to the source, the Manipur Police had chased and arrested a few armed members of the Arambai Tenggol who had allegedly stolen private vehicles. Following their arrest, a group of Meira Paibis (Meitei women volunteers) blocked roads and carried out a protest outside the police station asking for their release, the source said.

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cybercrime-blogs · 1 year

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Kashmiri Brother-in-Law could not show Kamal, and pressure on Nagpur police failed

The City Exelon Software Private Limited Company in Nagpur has been rocked by a case of cyber blackmailing, source code and data theft, and software rigging that has left its director, Vinod Kumar Tambi, reeling. The accused parties include Pune resident IT professional Shatrughan Singh Tangral and his wife, Manjusha, who are the main culprits in the case. It is alleged that they used Tambi’s company’s source code and data to form their own company and rigged bills worth crores. The couple was caught and arrested, but Shatrughan’s brother-in-law, who is an inspector in the Jammu and Kashmir Police, arrived in Nagpur to save his brother-in-law. However, he has failed to make any headway with the Nagpur police, who are under pressure from the IPL lobby.

It has come to light that Shatrughan and his wife Manjusha started forging documents and making fake bills by taking some IT professionals of Exelon along with them to benefit their private company. The couple made fake bills using stolen source code and data from Exelon, collecting Rs. 17,50,000 in the year 2014-15, Rs. 34,23,750 in the year 2015-16, Rs. 1,54,81,550 in the year 2016-17, Rs. 50,000, Rs 64,60,087 in the year 2018-19 and Rs 5,93,56,532 in the year 2019-20 by making fake bills totaling Rs 8,76,21,919. Furthermore, they formed a software company named Triasoft, where both Shatrughan and Manjusha are listed as directors. Shatrughan formed this second company after resigning from Exelon. However, he prepared software products by stealing Exelon’s platform, DMS solutions, GST solutions, intellectual property, database schema, source code, and other proprietary information.

ALSO READ: Cybercrime in Nagpur – Cyber Blackmailer Couple Arrested in Pune for Extorting Money

Despite the allegations against Shatrughan and Manjusha, Shatrughan’s brother-in-law, who is an inspector in the Jammu and Kashmir Police, has attempted to intercede on their behalf. However, his efforts have been in vain, as the Nagpur police are determined to see justice served. They have received calls from other states’ IPS officers, but the EOW and Cyber Cell refuse to allow any laxity in the investigation. The senior officers that the Kashmiri brother-in-law has contacted are also hesitant to meet with the City Police Commissioner Dr. Upadhyay and Crime Branch Head Nilesh Bharne. Click here to know more about cybercrime in Nagpur.

The case against Shatrughan and Manjusha is particularly damning because it implicates multiple parties, including Exelon’s own IT professionals. They used the stolen source code and data to form their own company and produce fake bills that amounted to crores of rupees. Shatrughan and Manjusha’s second company, Triasoft, also benefited from stolen intellectual property and source code from Exelon. The couple’s illicit activities continued for six years, resulting in a significant loss to Exelon, and they made off with almost 9 crores in fake bills.

ALSO READ: Nagpur Cybercrime Update: Pune Police Arrest Couple for Cyber Blackmail and Extortion Scheme

In conclusion, the case of cyber blackmailing and source code theft in Nagpur has serious implications for the IT industry. Shatrughan and Manjusha’s illicit activities not only harmed Exelon but also exposed the vulnerabilities in IT security that can be exploited by unscrupulous individuals. The fact that Shatrughan’s brother-in-law, who is a police inspector, has attempted to intercede on his behalf only underscores the need for greater accountability and transparency in the IT industry.

Source: https://www.enavabharat.com/state/maharashtra/nagpur/kashmiri-brother-in-law-could-not-show-kamal-pressure-on-nagpur-police-failed-118910/

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publictaknews · 1 year

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Bihar IG's loaded pistol missing, one arrested

Bihar IG’s loaded pistol missing, one arrested

ByMukesh Kumar MishraPatna A loaded service pistol of a senior Bihar Police officer has gone missing and the son of the home guard working at his residence in Police Colony in Patna has been detained for questioning, police said on Friday. Vikas Vaibhav, a 2003 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, is currently posted as the Inspector General of Police (IG). According to the police, on…

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mevolve2022 · 2 years

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Life Canvas: Happiness in every nook and corner

As you go higher, lesser is the pollution and bewitching are the arresting scenes. The new launch project in Pune: Life Canvas, Mamurdi, PCMC comprises of 4 high-rise towers with 16 floors each. This beautiful gated community, designed by IP associates, is spread over three acres of lush green land.

In the previous blogs, we have reflected on the many privileges of putting money into 1, 2 or 3 BHK new flats for sale in Pune at Life Canvas, Mamurdi, PCMC. Some of them were:

Location

Affordability

Return potential

Manicured Lawns and Green foliage

Secure environment for children

Holistic Development

Four tier security

And lots more…

Mevolve is a sales consultancy and interior design organization that aims to create workplaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. As a consequence of our many years of expertise, we have a profound comprehension of how to design environments that foster collaboration and produce fruitful outcomes. We provide a comprehensive range of services, from sales training and workshops to the complete design and implementation of office environments. Our team of knowledgeable professionals will collaborate with you to determine the unique demands you have and will then design a bespoke solution that is affordable and can be completed within the allotted amount of time.

Mevolve can assist you in achieving your goals, whether those goals are to increase your sales statistics or simply create an environment at work that is more welcoming and productive. Get in touch with us right away to find out more about the services we offer and how we can assist you in achieving your objectives.

Mevolve Sales consultancy companies is a professional services firm that specializes in sales and interior design services. The organization is known as Mevolve Sales consultancy company & Interior Designer. To assist our customers in the expansion of their enterprises, we provide a comprehensive selection of services, such as sales counseling as well as the services of interior designers, project management, and more. Our staff is comprised of knowledgeable industry experts who are enthusiastic about ensuring the success of our customers. We take a unique, individualized approach to work with each of our customers, and we are committed to delivering the greatest possible level of service. Please get in touch with us as soon as possible if you are seeking a trustworthy and dependable business partner to assist you in expanding your company. It would be a pleasure for us to talk about your requirements and provide our assistance.

Let’s latch on to some more constructive features that make this ongoing residential project in Pune worth investing.

Worry-free Maintenance

In metro cities like Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Banglore, everyone is always complaining that they have no time. So, who will take care of the day-to-day maintenance of the house? Nowadays, almost all members of the family pursue their careers. So, upkeep becomes a challenging task. At this new housing project in Pune, on-call electricians and plumbers are readily available. Furthermore, upkeep of the podium, lobby, drainage, etc. is looked after by the society. Believe it or not, a couple of maids spend hours together to sweep the gardens, driveways, lift and suchlike to keep the gated community spick-and-span always. Any issue of parking or other common area can be immediately reported to the housekeeping department through a user-friendly mobile app, and sorted immediately.

No Speeding Vehicles & Traffic

When you are a resident of one of the best residential projects in Pune: Life Canvas, Mamurdi, PCMC; you are miles away from the disturbing horns and annoying traffic. Everyone has to drive in the given speed limit within the gated community by default. Activities such as cycling, jogging or walking can be carried out smoothly without interruptions by automobiles. Kids and senior citizens can enjoy with companions in every corner of the society at any time of the day.

Integrated Lifestyle

All communal facilities and other essentials like grocery and pharmacy are within easy reach. Additionally, there is a proposed commercial tower at the entrance.

Become a part of the Life Canvas family today!

#sales consulatancy #sales consultancy companies #Interior designer

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znewstech · 2 years

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Karnataka: Senior IPS officer Amrit Paul arrested in Bengaluru for alleged role in police recruitment scam | Bengaluru News

BENGALURU: Investigations in the police sub-inspector (PSI) recruitment scam in Karnataka took a serious turn with the arrest of an IPS officer of the rank of additional director general of police, Amrit Paul, in Bengaluru on Monday. Paul, who was being questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for the last four days, was heading the Karnataka police recruitment cell. This is the…

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globalaffairs · 2 years

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Probe Panel Summons Mumbai Ex-Top Cop In Corruption Case

Justice KU Chandiwal commission, formed in March to probe the allegations against Nationalist Congress Party leader Anil Deshmukh, gave the direction to the former Mumbai police commissioner.

Mumbai:

A single-member commission probing the allegations of corruption levelled by senior IPS officer Param Bir Singh against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh today directed Param Bir Singh to appear before it on November 29.

Justice KU Chandiwal commission, formed in March this year to probe the allegations against Anil Deshmukh, a Nationalist Congress Party leader, gave the direction to the former Mumbai police commissioner.

On Thursday, the commission had warned that if Param Bir Singh did not appear before it, he would face execution of the bailable warrant issued against him earlier.

As the matter came up for hearing on Friday, Param Bir Singh's lawyer told the commission that the senior IPS officer won't be able to appear during the day as he is in Thane in connection with a case registered against him.

The lawyer said Param Singh was ready to appear on Saturday, but the commission directed him to remain present before it on Monday instead.

Earlier, the commission had fined Param Singh on multiple times for failing to appear before it. Also, a bailable warrant had also been issued against him by the commission.

The former Mumbai police commissioner, declared absconding by a court, appeared before the Mumbai police's crime branch on Thursday to record statement in an extortion case registered against him.

The IPS officer is facing several cases of extortion cases in Maharashtra, including two in Thane city.

Param Bir Singh has not reported to work since May this year, following his transfer from the post of Mumbai police commissioner and his subsequent allegations of corruption against Anil Deshmukh, who was then home minister.

Param Bir Singh was transferred after Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze was arrested in the case of an SUV with explosives found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house Antilia and the subsequent suspicious death of businessman Mansukh Hiran.

#Param Bir Singh #Corruption Case

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werindialive · 2 years

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“I am in Chandigarh, will visit Mumbai soon”, former IPS Param Bir Singh

After two days of the Supreme Court granted police protection to the former city Police Chief Param Bir Singh from arrest, he has cleared that he was in Chandigarh city and will soon show up in Mumbai.

Parambir Singh is an IPS office who has been accused in 4 extortion cases in Maharashtra and has also been declared as an absconder by a court. He told the media that he is in Chandigarh now and soon will visit Mumbai.

On Tuesday evening, Singh also made an appearance on the social media app Telegram but later deleted his account, however. He has confirmed that he will be visiting Mumbai soon.

Singh did not reported to his work since May this year right after he got his transfer letter in March from his post of Mumbai police commissioner and his subsequent allegations of corruption against then Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh.

Now, post the orders of the Supreme Court, it appears that the law enforcing agencies aren’t in any rush to record Singh’s statement in his extortion cases. Singh has cases registered against him in Thane and Mumbai. The Supreme Court has asked Parambir Singh to join the probe and has posted the hearing to December 6. We had a preliminary discussion on the SC order with legal experts. We are not in a hurry, we will not take any decision in haste. We do not want to invite the SC's ire. Instead, we will wait till December 6 to seek clarification on the order,'' a senior IPS officer told a leading news daily.

"The Supreme Court has given a blanket order not to arrest him, therefore we will seek we will seek clarification from the apex court on December 6,” he added.

For more national news India in Hindi, subscribe to our newsletter.

#national news India in Hindi #national news #werindia #leading india news source #top news stories #top news headlines #top news

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classyfoxdestiny · 3 years

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Anti-sedition law: Is it a necessary evil?

On the night of December 17, 1995, a large consignment of weapons, including AK-47 rifles and several hundred rounds of ammunition, was airdropped from an aircraft in the Purulia district of West Bengal. The weapons were confiscated by the police after the locals informed them about the mysterious event. A Dane named Niels Holck, also known as Kim Peter Davy, was later found to be the kingpin behind the operation, and the Central Bureau of Investigation slapped sedition charges in the case.

The sensational events captured the imagination of the public and the political circles: there were allegations that the arms drop was plotted to destabilise the Left Front government of Jyoti Basu in West Bengal. The CBI issued a statement in 2011 dismissing claims that the operation had the nod of “political forces” at the Centre.

An illegal act of this sort, that has the potential to incite an armed revolt against an elected government, can best be described as a seditious act and not just a terrorist plot.

Loknath Behera, a senior IPS officer involved in the investigation of the Purulia arms drop case, said the anti-sedition law should be used sparingly since it entails heavy punishment up to life imprisonment. Moreover, it is also a difficult offence to prove in court. “Sedition cannot be invoked for small offences,” he said. “It has to be used judiciously in the context of the Kedar Nath Singh [vs the State of Bihar] judgment [of 1962], where the constitutionality of Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code was tested and upheld.”

In the Kedar Nath Singh judgment, the Supreme Court narrowed down the scope of the anti-sedition law, saying that mere criticism of the government was not seditious unless it incited violence or disturbed public order. This meant that if the law was not read in the context of this interpretation, it threatened to engulf any expression of opposing opinion—written or spoken—qualifying it as incitement of hatred or disaffection towards the government.

In the last few years, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has slapped sedition charges in a series of cases. Leaders of the proscribed organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and terror-accused in Kashmir to politicians and activists protesting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in 2019 became the accused in these cases. The NIA, set up in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has mixed experience in courts on sedition cases. While the agency successfully proved the charges in some, it failed in many others.

“The anti-sedition law has its relevance,” said a senior NIA official. “When a banned outfit like the SFJ, which propagates the idea of a separate Khalistan state, enters into a social media campaign besides invoking the anti-terror law, such activities also attract penal provisions defined under IPC Section 124A which explains the offence more clearly.”

But there has been a plethora of cases where courts have acquitted the accused. Recently, the NIA court in Guwahati acquitted activist and MLA Akhil Gogoi and three others in a sedition case slapped against them during the height of the anti-CAA protests in Assam in 2019.

Successive governments have used the anti-sedition law with impunity to quell dissent. The result is that several writers, journalists, cartoonists, politicians, activists and students got entangled in the dreaded colonial-era statute. And, the level of sedition charges has stretched the imagination of the law itself.

Two months ago, a sedition charge was slapped against an Assam woman for using a table cloth that resembled the national flag while celebrating Eid. In June, the Guwahati High Court granted her bail. In another instance in Punjab in 2020, a political leader was accused of sedition when he posted a message on social media about the lack of ventilators during the pandemic. The bail order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court termed the use of sedition in this case as an “overzealous exercise of power” by the police. The trial is yet to commence.

The courts are now dealing with several cases of visibly apparent misuse of the anti-sedition law, and this has drawn the ire of the Supreme Court. On July 15, the Supreme Court asked the Union government as to why it was not repealing the provision used by the British to silence people like Mahatma Gandhi.

“Is it still necessary to keep this statute even after 75 years of Independence?” asked the three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana, while agreeing to examine the pleas filed by the Editors Guild of India and an army veteran, challenging Section 124A. The bench issued a notice to the Union government and pointed out that the conviction rate in sedition cases is extremely low.

Section 124A was inserted into the IPC by the British in 1870. Repealing obsolete and archaic laws was a poll promise of the BJP. After it came to power, more than 1,200 redundant laws were struck off. A special committee has been set up in the prime minister’s office to review archaic laws and make recommendations to the government. But the final word on making changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure, IPC and anti-terror laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and National Security Act lies with the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA). The ministry has constituted a five-member committee to look into overhauling such fossilised legislations, or removing them.

With the review of the sedition law on its table, it is not the first time Home Minister Amit Shah and Home Secretary A.K. Bhalla are burning the midnight oil. The first option is to revise the draconian legislation to make it in sync with the changing times. Second, to issue guidelines based on the directions of the Supreme Court, and third, to strike it down if it has outlived its purpose.

“There is a need for wider consultation on the matter,” said D. Raja, general secretary of the Communist Party of India. “The government should consult stakeholders and get public opinion while making changes to any laws.”

In 2012, the UPA government had walked a few steps to review the anti-sedition law but developed cold feet. A group of ministers was then constituted to suggest changes based on recommendations of the law commission. Former home ministry officials said the view taken was to retain the law after revising the definition for sedition. Several changes were proposed including replacing disaffection against “government” with disaffection against “Parliament, state legislature, Constitution, national flag, national anthem and national emblem”, and reducing the punishment for sedition to a seven-year jail term with a fine. But the proposals never saw the light of day. In the meantime, law enforcement agencies were asked to avoid misuse of sedition and make use of other provisions in the IPC to deal with similar offences of a lesser category.

In the mid-1980s, the Union home ministry had shown greater political will when it came to drafting a law to quell separatist tendencies. P. Chidambaram, former Union home minister told THE WEEK: “In 1987, the Terrorists and Disruption Activities (Prevention) Act was drafted and passed in the context of the rising terrorism in Punjab. It was intended to be a temporary law.” Chidambaram, who was then minister of state for internal security, sat down with M.K. Narayanan, the then director of Intelligence Bureau, and a senior Punjab police officer, to draft TADA that encompassed a wide range of activities, including protests of all sorts. For the first time, it made confessions before a police officer admissible in court, put restrictions on bail and gave enhanced powers to detain suspects. TADA was in force between 1985 and 1995.

According to police officers of that era, the law was grossly misused. Over the years, the Supreme Court read down the application of the law to prevent its misuse. “Safeguards were introduced and the law was upheld by the courts, but still, the law was misused,” said Chidambaram. “The Congress government under P.V. Narasimha Rao allowed the Act to lapse.”

Shantanu Sen, former joint director in CBI who was then deputy inspector general in Punjab Police, said: “I was part of the consultations that drafted TADA. While it was useful at one time to fight terrorism and organised crime in Punjab, I am not mourning its end.”

In western countries, said Sen, various forms of incarceration are there: individuals can be put under house arrest and other steps taken to control their movement if they are found on the wrong side of the law which are not heavily punishable. “But here, the situation of an undertrial is the same as that of a person who is convicted for a crime,” he said. Sen added that simply because the sedition law is being misused, it cannot be struck down. “However, the government should immediately bring provisions to control its misuse,” he said.

The danger, according to law enforcement officers, is that it may open a pandora’s box of new forms of misuse. Also, offences that strictly qualify as seditious speech or writing might be stretched as offences under some stringent laws like the UAPA.

The recent death of the 84-year-old Jesuit priest and activist Stan Swamy, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, while being in judicial custody, raised several questions on the use of draconian laws like the UAPA. Swamy was booked under various sections of the UAPA; there was no sedition charge against him. He had already spent nine months in jail, before his death on July 5, waiting for his trial to start. There are many others like Swamy, booked for sedition and anti-terror charges, waiting in jails for years awaiting trial.

Undeniably, state police have different experiences with sedition, owing to their different social concerns and history of crime and terrorism. The number of cases varies from state to state. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the Maoist-infested state of Chhattisgarh had just one case filed under Section 124A in 2019. Whereas Karnataka had 22 cases, Assam had 17 and Jammu and Kashmir 11.

Vishwaranjan, former director-general of police, Chhattisgarh, explained why there was no need to invoke too many sedition cases in the state. “There is no denying that the Maoist literature, speeches, actions were all seditious,” he said. “But until their claims were backed by seditious activity that could damage law and order, we arrested them under normal sections of the IPC.”

M. Mahender Reddy, director-general of police of Telangana, said sedition is used only against top Maoist cadres who use the ‘barrel of the gun’ to threaten the state. N.R. Wasan, former special director in CBI, said in his career spanning 36 years he never used sedition against any accused. “There were all kinds of cases under investigation, from insurgency to Naxalism, but I did not feel the need to use it,” he said.

There have been efforts by state governments to ensure judicious use of the anti-sedition law. In 2015, the home department of Maharashtra issued a circular asking police stations to issue guidelines to prevent the misuse of the law. The circular mentioned that words against politicians and government servants cannot be termed as sedition, obscenity or vulgarity does not fall under sedition and a legal opinion must be obtained in writing from a law officer of the district, giving reasons why the charges are being invoked.

Shishir Hiray, a special public prosecutor in Maharashtra, points out that there are many provisions to prevent unnecessary arrests which can be used to stop the misuse of laws like sedition. “For example, Section 41A of the CrPC has penal provisions that can be invoked against an investigating officer if he flouts the rules of arrest,” he said.

P.D.T. Achary, former secretary- general of the Lok Sabha, said Article 19(2) of the Constitution authorises the government to impose reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression. And, it is under this umbrella that sedition exists on the statute book to date. Achary, however, noted that the problem persists in the law which is arbitrary and unjustifiable at any stage. “The Supreme Court should strike it down now,” he said.

Parliamentarians have time and again argued about the number of sedition cases in the country under different governments. The method of calculation varies as in some FIRs Section 124A is not a primary offence but a secondary one. This is one of the reasons why figures of the NCRB on sedition cases are at odds with the numbers recently revealed by Article 14—a portal run by a group of lawyers, journalists and academics which has tracked sedition cases between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2020. Their data showed a massive 96 per cent rise in cases since Narendra Modi came to power. The home ministry officials said they have started maintaining a separate database on sedition since 2014, unlike the UPA regime when all sedition cases were clubbed with IPC cases.

Lt General Shokin Chouhan, former chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group in Nagaland, said: “More than numbers, the cause for disaffection toward any government needs to be addressed. Whether it is the Central or state government, lack of [good] governance breeds disaffection.”

Lubhyathi Rangarajan, a lawyer who heads the Article 14 project, said inherent in the meaning of sedition lies a stigma—it is desh droh (traitor) in several Indian languages. While the word sedition awaits a final decree on its fate, the silver lining is that it is never too late for the government to build the affection of people.

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