Delhi HC: Support to terror outfits can be through virtual meets

The court, mentioning that sections 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act deal with membership of a terrorist organisation and support to a terrorist organisation respectively, said: “Such support could include monetary support, assistance in arranging meetings, managing meetings to support or furthering the activity of the terrorist organization, receiving money which could be used for terrorism, etc. Broadly, therefore, support to a terrorist organization either monetarily or otherwise in the form of networking, meetings, etc. is clearly prohibited.”

Abbas, 28, was booked in a 2021 case by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) and was arrested in December that year. Accused of allegedly working for a Pakistani handler, with multiple phones and SIM cards seized from his possession, it was NIA’s case that he was involved with the LeT. According to the agency, he was also allegedly using multiple pseudonym bank accounts for layering and channeling money to other overground workers of LeT in India.

Noting that there are several terrorist organizations “which are waging a war against India and are involved continuously in planning and execution of terrorist activities within India,”the court said that these organisations includes recruitment of youngsters, funding of terror by opening fraudulent bank accounts, use of digital devices for enabling communication and networking of the terrorist organisation, coordination with handlers located abroad including in countries such as Pakistan”.