NIA Court Forfeits Properties Of Pakistan-Based Khalistani Sympathisers To State

Four aides of Khalistani sympathiser Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda were apprehended with three IEDs, one Pistol with two magazines, 31 rounds of ammunition and Rs. 1.30 lakh in cash in 2022.

The National Investigation Agency has sought properties of four aides of Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda to be ‘forfeited to the State’ under section 26 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. In a statement on Thursday, NIA said it special court has approved the terror agency’s application seeking the forfeiture of the property, including Rs.7,80,000 in cash and a Toyota Innova Car (DL1VB-7869), which was used by the accused for transporting arms, ammunition, explosives and narcotics across India.

On May 5, 2022, Haryana Police had seized three improvised explosive devices, one Pistol with two magazines, 31 rounds of ammunition and Rs. 1.30 lakh in cash from the four accused, Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi, Amandeep Singh alias Deepa, Parminder Singh alias Pinder and Bhupinder Singh.

The accused were going to deliver the consignment to Telangana's Adilabad in a Innova car in which they made a cavity to hide the arms and cash, it added. 

The Haryana Police had registered a case against all these four under sections 13, 18, and 20 of the UAPA, sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substance Act 1908 and section 25 of the Arms Act. 

On May 24, 2022, the probe was taken over by the NIA. 

Investigations revealed that the four men had received “multiple consignments of arms, ammunition, explosives and narcotics, which were sent via drones from Pakistan by wanted terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu @ Rinda.” 

“The supplies were delivered at pre-determined locations near the Indo-Pak border. Further investigations showed that Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi had earned a lot of money by smuggling arms, ammunition, explosives, and narcotics,” the statement read. 

“ The NIA Special Court Panchkula, Haryana, after thorough consideration of the matter, has now ordered confirmation of the seizures and forfeited the said property under section 26 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 to the State on the grounds that the same constituted “proceeds of terrorism,” it added.