Areeb Majeed to face additional section under UAPA in IS case

Areeb Majeed, already convicted for joining the Islamic State in 2014, will now face an extra charge under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). On Friday, the court denied his plea to exclude the Section 17 UAPA charge, which could lead to life imprisonment if convicted. The charge specifically relates to raising funds for a terrorist act.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed the fifth supplementary chargesheet against Majeed last month. Despite Majeed's objection, the court took up the case, stating that the NIA merely sought to record a sanction order and electronic evidence, not to frame the additional charge. Special judge C S Baviskar ruled that the prosecution must be given the chance to present its case and that framing the additional charge would not prejudice Majeed.

In May 2014, aged 21, Majeed along with three others from Kalyan, near Mumbai, left India claiming it was a pilgrimage. Instead, they allegedly joined the banned terrorist group in Baghdad.