3 acquittals before former SIMI head’s first conviction

SAFDAR NAGORI, the former head of the Students Islamic Movement of India, was convicted for the first time on Monday.

The 84-page judgment that convicted him followed the 48year-old’s acquittals in three cases over the last few years.

“There are several lacunae in the judgment and we will appeal against it on legal points,’’ his advocate Rahman Khan said.

In 2015, Safdar was among 17 Muslim men, including five SIMI operatives who were sentenced to serve life on Monday, who were acquitted by a trial court in Hubli. Safdar’s advocate said he was acquitted in two other cases in Madhya Pradesh. The advocate said his client was an accused in at least two cases, including the blasts in Ahmedabad.

Besides Safdar, three other accused hailed from Madhya Pradesh. Kamruddin Nagori is from Ujjain, Qamran from Khandwa and Aamil Parvez from Unhel in Ujjain district. Aamil’s brother Zadil was recently picked by Maharashtra ATS from Indore.

OFFICER IN DOCK FOR PAPER LEAK

Safdar Nagori