Maulana Kalimuddin Mujahiri’s case highlights broader concerns about the misuse of the country's strict anti-terror laws, particularly the UAPA
NEW DELHI – A Muslim scholar from Jharkhand, Maulana Kalimuddin Mujahiri, was acquitted of terrorism charges in February of this year after a nearly decade-long legal battle. Despite the court’s ruling, Mujahiri and his family continue to face social stigma and financial difficulties,
Mujahiri was accused of having links with Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and was charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The prosecution claimed that Mujahiri had hosted meetings at his residence to organise terrorist activities and had promoted extremist ideas through videos.
On February 28, 2025, the Additional Sessions Judge-I in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, dismissed the charges against Mujahiri and his co-accused, citing insufficient evidence. The court ruled that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove its case.
Despite the court’s ruling, Mujahiri’s family continues to face social stigma and financial difficulties. His son, Huzaifa, alleged that they were subjected to custodial torture and harassment during the investigation. The family’s reputation has been tarnished, and they have faced social boycotts and exclusion, a report in the Article 14 news portal said on Wednesday.
The portal addresses threats to and failures of justice and deficiencies in the legal system, tracks successes that can be built upon and discerns trends and patterns that need to be brought to the widest public attention.
Maulana Mujahiri is bitter at society’s attitude towards him and his family. “The damage is done now. People in our community avoid us. Some relatives still haven’t come to meet me. Even now, when people see me, they turn their heads away,” Article 14 quoted him as saying from his home in Jamshedpur. “This case has affected me in every way possible, be it emotionally, financially, or socially,” he added.
Reflecting on his acquittal, Maulana Mujahiri said, “The court let me go because I didn’t do anything wrong. My home was never a place for anything illegal, and they had nothing to show for their claims.”
The case underscores concerns about the misuse of the country’s strict anti-terror laws, particularly the UAPA. Data shows a significant increase in UAPA cases registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power at the Centre in 2014. The cases have a low conviction rate.
Data compiled from the NIA website by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), a human rights and civil liberties organisation, showed that the NIA registered 69 UAPA cases between 2009 and 2014, averaging 13.8 cases per year over five years. Between 2014 and 2022, the number rose to 288, averaging 36 cases per year over eight years. This is a 160.8% increase in the yearly rate of UAPA cases registered by the NIA over these periods.
Sanjay Hegde, a senior advocate at the Supreme Court, notes that the UAPA law allows police to cast a wide dragnet, ruining lives and causing lasting stigma for families. He emphasises the need for accountability and compensation for wrongful arrests and detention.
Maulana Mujahiri’s case underscores the need for reform in the country’s anti-terror laws and the importance of protecting human rights. The acquittal of Mujahiri and his co-accused is a welcome relief, but the social stigma and financial difficulties faced by his family highlight the need for greater support and protection for those wrongly accused.
