Overview
- A special NIA court in Kolkata granted interim conditional bail to Shakir Ali on Friday while the agency’s probe continues and no charge sheet has been filed.
- Ali was arrested from his Rishra home on June 30 and was remanded to two days of NIA custody before his bail hearing.
- The court ordered Ali to appear before investigators every 15 days and barred him from leaving West Bengal without the court’s permission until the charge sheet is filed.
- The NIA opposed bail in court alleging Ali was not cooperating with investigators, while his lawyer said he is suspected to have cancer, is undergoing treatment, and has complied with summonses.
- The case stems from violent incidents during the 2023 Ram Navami procession in Rishra that included bomb attacks, arson and vandalism, and the NIA takeover reflects the probe’s national-security and cross-jurisdictional concerns.