Supreme Court Seeks NIA Response on Bail Plea of Alleged Terror Accomplice

New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) The Supreme Court sought a response from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday regarding a plea by a man arrested for allegedly aiding individuals accused of terrorist activities. A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh issued a notice to the NIA, requesting its reply to the bail plea of Allahrakha Abu Bakar Manoori, who has been incarcerated for seven years. The Bombay High Court, on March 28, had denied bail to Manoori, highlighting the severity of the charges against him. The prosecution informed the high court that Manoori had allegedly planned to provide vehicles to individuals trained in Pakistan for terrorist activities, including bomb blasts, and had also allegedly supplied arms to other accused persons. The high court bench remarked that Manoori could face a maximum life sentence if convicted. They emphasized the seriousness of the matter, citing substantial evidence against the accused. "The allegations pose a threat to national security, and the gravity of the offense cannot be ignored," the judges noted, while also observing that the trial was progressing significantly and the prosecution aimed to conclude it by the end of the year.