India
NIA Court Grants Default Bail to Two of 12 Accused in Vijayawada Terror Links Case
On March 24, the Andhra Pradesh police’s counter‑intelligence cell arrested 12 members of Al Malik Islamic Youth, suspected of links to banned terrorist outfits such as al‑Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), following a multi‑state operation. Four days after a special court hearing for National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases in Visakhapatnam, a special court granted default bail to two of the 12 accused. Defence advocate Abdus Saleem, representing the accused, said Sayeeda Begum was released from the special women’s prison in Rajamahendravaram on Tuesday, while Shadman Dilkash was released from the same prison on Monday.
Sayeeda Begum, a Hyderabad‑based domestic helper, and Shadman Dilkash, a Patna, Bihar, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) aspirant, were named as accused in the NIA chargesheet. The NIA court directed both to furnish personal bonds of ₹50,000 each, along with two sureties. As part of the bail conditions, Sayeeda Begum must report to the NIA office in Hyderabad once a month, while Shadman Dilkash was directed to appear before the NIA office in Patna.
Saleem said the NIA court granted default bail to the two accused on October 6 after the statutory investigation period of 180 days expired without the investigating agency filing charge sheets. The defence argued that the NIA had filed charge sheets against other accused in the case but had not named the two for lack of evidence, claiming no material evidence existed to establish the alleged offences against them. It contended that continued detention was not legally sustainable once the prescribed investigation period elapsed.
The 12 arrested in the case include Mohammed Rahantulla Sharif (A1), Mohammed Danish (A2) and Mirza Sohail Beg (A3), all from Vijayawada; Shadman Dilkash (A4) from Bihar; Sayeeda Begum (A5) from Hyderabad; Shaikh Fayaz Rehman (A6); Lucky Ahmed (A7) from Delhi; Azmanulla Khan (A8); Zeeshan (A9) from Rajasthan; Meer Asif Ali Bankura (A10) from West Bengal; Abdul Salam (A11) from Ballari in Karnataka; and Shah Rukh Khan (A12) from Pune.
The investigation revealed that Pakistan‑based handlers had planned a dedicated women’s wing, Khawateen, allegedly headed by Sayeeda Begum, to train recruits in using sniper rifles, guns, black powder bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to target non‑Muslims and spread terror in India. According to the police, the accused told investigators that although they had harboured extremist tendencies for some time, their radicalisation intensified only after they came into contact with a foreign handler identified as Al Hakeem Shukur on social media.
The case was initially registered by the II Town Police Station in Vijayawada under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Information Technology Act. The investigation was subsequently transferred to the National Investigation Agency.
Frequently asked questions
Who were the two accused granted default bail by the NIA court?
Sayeeda Begum and Shadman Dilkash were the two accused granted default bail.
What were the bail conditions imposed on the two accused?
Both had to furnish personal bonds of ₹50,000 each, provide two sureties, and Sayeeda Begum must report to the NIA office in Hyderabad once a month, while Shadman Dilkash must appear before the NIA office in Patna.
How many members of Al Malik Islamic Youth were arrested in the Vijayawada terror links case?
Twelve members of Al Malik Islamic Youth were arrested.