The Special Court For National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases in Poonamallee, Chennai, sentenced Abdullah, also known as Saravana Kumar, to five years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. Abdullah, a member of the banned terrorist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), was found guilty of promoting the diverse and violent ideology of the organisation, which advocates for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate through unlawful means.
In a post on social media platform X, the NIA detailed that Abdullah had been convicted for inciting others to engage in unlawful activities aimed at destabilizing India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The agency’s investigation revealed Abdullah’s deep involvement with HuT, saying that he attempted to gain support for the organisation and actively encouraged followers to challenge India’s democratic governance.
The NIA statement revealed that Abdullah had been using social media to further HuT’s agenda. On two occasions in 2021, he posted inflammatory content on Facebook under the alias “Abdullah ibn Subramanian”. His posts were intended to promote disaffection towards the Indian government and to incite toward actions against public order, violating laws under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). NIA investigators found that Abdullah’s content sought to disrupt public tranquility, a charge for which he has now been convicted.
The prosecution argued that Abdullah had been radicalized through online sources and was allegedly seeking support from foreign entities to form a militant force aimed at establishing an Islamic State in Tamil Nadu. His posts not only supported HuT’s objective of overthrowing the Indian government but also encouraged violence and extremism, resonating with the objectives of ISIS, with whom he is believed to have been in contact.
Abdullah’s activities came under scrutiny in April 2021, when police in Madurai’s Teppakulam area arrested him following complaints about his incendiary social media posts. The Tamil Nadu police charged him under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including charges of attempting to wage war against the government, promoting religious enmity, and violations under the UAPA.
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