A court in Gujarat’s Surat on Saturday acquitted all the 127 members of the banned outfit Student’s Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) who were accused and arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for participating in a meeting organized on December 2001 after the central government had through its notification dated – September 27, 2001 banned SIMI.
The total number of Muslims arrested were 127, while among the acquitted, 5 innocent died during trial, after they were arrested with the allegation of being members of a banned organization Student’s Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), an advocate said.
The court said in its order that the prosecution had failed to produce ‘cogent, reliable and satisfactory’ evidence to establish that the accused persons belonged to the SIMI and had gathered to promote the activities of the banned outfit.
CJM Dave made it clear that all those arrested 20 years ago could not be held guilty under the draconian anti-terror law. The BJP government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had banned SIMI in September 2001.
The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate AN Dave on Saturday acquitted 127 persons arrested on the charges of being members of the banned outfit SIMI, giving them the benefit of doubt.
Advocate Abdul Wahab Shaikh said the court acquitted the accused after accepting the defense arguments, in an interview with ANI.
“In 2001, people from various parts of the country participated in an event organized at Rajeshree Hall in the Sagrampura area under the banner of All India Minority Education Board. The police raided the event in the night on December 27 as it thought SIMI members were participating in the event. Police arrested many people. The hearing of the case went on for 20 years,” he said.
“On Saturday, the court acquitted all the 127 accused. The court accepted defense arguments stating that the accused did not belong to the SIMI and had gathered there to participate in a seminar organized under the banner of the All India Minority Education Board. The court acquitted all the accused persons and said they cannot be held guilty under the UAPA,” he added.
Hanif Vohra, one of the accused who was granted bail after 14 months in jail, spoke about the term to the media.
“I was in jail for 14 months. I was granted bail later. My family suffered financially and psychologically. Now, the court acquitted all accused and I am happy over the verdict,” he said.