Court Acquits 124 Persons, 20-Year-Old Case in Gujrat, Accused of Being SIMI Members

Surat, 06 March: In a 20-year-old case, Surat court in Gujrat acquitted all 124 accused, they charged and arrested for participating in the conference allegedly held by the Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in Sagrampura in Surat.

Chief Judicial Magistrate A N Dave acquitted all 124 persons include some well-known Muslim leaders ‘citing no evidence’ for being members of SIMI.

The accused belonged to different states of Indian including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

Five other accused had died during the 20-year long trial which was registered in December 27-30, 2001.

Court in order said, that the prosecution failed to produce ‘cogent, reliable and satisfactory’ evidence to establish that the accused persons belonged to the SIMI and had gathered to promote the activities of the banned outfit.

A Conference was organized in Surat under the banner of the All-India Minority Education Board between 27-30, December 2001, to discuss the educational rights of Muslims.

Surat police raided the meeting and arrested all members who was present in the conference and accused them under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967), alleging that they were part of SIMI.

The 19 YEAR LONG WAIT for justice for Muslims!
The police could not prove that those 127 were members of SIMI. The court held that they had gathered WITHOUT weapons for an educational program.
Would anyone still believe that the police does not harass them selectively? pic.twitter.com/FXNLtvH8bC
— Dr. N. C. Asthana, IPS (Retd) (@NcAsthana) March 7, 2021