‘Deterrent message’: Doctor gets six years in jail in ISIS case

A special court in Pune has sentenced a doctor, Adnananali Sarkar, to six years in prison for his involvement in ISIS terror activities. The court, designated under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, heard the case in July 2023 and issued the verdict on Saturday. Sarkar, who operates a private hospital in Pune's Kondhwa area as a consulting anaesthetist, admitted guilt in the ISIS terror module case during a hearing on October 28.

The court emphasized the need to send a "deterrent message" to society to prevent similar acts of national security concern from arising. Prosecutors alleged that Sarkar, along with co-accused, created a WhatsApp group for conducting ISIS-related lectures and sharing DIY kits to manufacture explosives and weapons. Despite pleading not guilty initially, Sarkar changed his plea to guilty on October 28, citing humanitarian grounds and the burden his incarceration would place on his family.

The court acknowledged his first-time offense but deemed the charges severe, particularly concerning national security. Judge Abhay Y Joglekar noted that Sarkar had no criminal record and requested the minimum permissible sentence under the law, taking into account his financial and familial obligations. The judge confirmed that Sarkar had pleaded guilty voluntarily without coercion, and his sentence aims to deter such anti-social elements from engaging in similar activities.