Nagpur, August 16, 2025: After over 18 years, a Nagpur court acquitted eight men accused of organizing meetings and distributing pamphlets linked to the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Judicial Magistrate A.K. Bankar ruled that the prosecution failed to provide evidence of the accused’s participation in unlawful activities, stating, “Mere possession of literature or documents allegedly connected to an unlawful association, without proof of active intent or participation, does not meet the legal threshold.”

The acquitted individuals, booked in 2006 under Sections 10 and 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), were in their 30s at the time of their arrest. Police had claimed to possess confidential information linking them to SIMI and alleged that incriminating materials were recovered from their residences. However, the prosecution could not substantiate these claims with records or credible witness testimony. Independent witnesses did not corroborate the police’s case, and allegations of one accused being sheltered by others remained unproven.

This acquittal adds to concerns raised by rights advocates about the misuse of stringent anti-terror laws, particularly against young Muslim men, leading to prolonged incarcerations with weak evidence. A similar case in Surat in 2021 saw 122 individuals acquitted in a 2001 SIMI-related case due to lack of proof. The Nagpur court’s decision underscores the need for robust evidence to justify charges under laws like the UAPA.