Only 34 Cases, Just 4 Judgments in Over 10 Years: Questions Mount Over Ahmedabad NIA Courts
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Three special courts established in Ahmedabad to hear cases investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have delivered judgments in only four of around 34 cases over the past decade, according to details provided in the case summary. The slow pace of trials has raised concerns over the disposal of terrorism, espionage, counterfeit currency and other national security-related cases in Gujarat.
The first special NIA court in Ahmedabad was established in 2011, followed by the setting up of additional special courts. Despite the sensitive nature of the cases before them, around 30 cases are still awaiting judgments, with several involving alleged international drug syndicates, terror networks and targeted killings.
The prolonged pendency has also renewed questions about the implementation of guidelines for the speedy disposal of NIA cases and the difficulties faced by victims’ families waiting for justice.
Four cases in which judgments have been delivered
The four cases cited in the report involve counterfeit currency, espionage and an alleged hijack threat aboard a passenger aircraft.
- ₹4.5 crore counterfeit currency seizure in Rajkot
In one of the biggest counterfeit currency seizures reported in an NIA case, fake ₹2,000 notes worth ₹4.5 crore were recovered from Rajkot’s Panchnath area. The main accused, Ketan Dave, and the other accused were acquitted in April 2026 due to a lack of evidence, according to the report.
- 2010 ISI espionage case
The case involved brothers Wasim Ramodiya and Naim Ramodiya, who were arrested in connection with alleged espionage activities linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Both were sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2023.
- 2015 counterfeit currency case
In another fake currency case, Sanjay Devaliya was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while Tahir Kaliya received a nine-year sentence.
- Birju Salla’s hijack threat case
In 2010, Mumbai-based businessman Birju Salla placed a letter in the toilet of a Jet Airways flight travelling from Mumbai to Delhi, threatening a hijack and a bomb. In June 2019, a special NIA court sentenced him to life imprisonment, making him the first person convicted under the amended Anti-Hijacking Act.
The Gujarat High Court subsequently set aside the life sentence and ordered his release in mid-2024.
Nine major cases still pending before Ahmedabad’s NIA courts
Several high-profile cases involving alleged terrorism, espionage, targeted killings and international drug trafficking remain pending, according to the supplied report.
₹21,000 crore Mundra Port heroin seizure
The case relates to the seizure of 2,988 kg of heroin, valued at around ₹21,000 crore, at Mundra Port in Kutch on September 13, 2021. The NIA took over the investigation because of suspected links to an international drug syndicate.
Double murder of two BJP leaders in Bharuch
Former BJP district president Shirish Bengali and youth wing leader Pragnesh Mistry were shot dead by contract killers on November 2, 2015. The case remains among the prominent pending matters cited in the report.
Heroin seizure near Jakhau coast
Another case concerns the interception of a Pakistani boat near Gujarat’s Jakhau coast and the seizure of 3,158 kg of heroin, reportedly valued at ₹3,158 crore.
Lawrence Bishnoi and alleged international links
The report identifies a case involving gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his associates, with investigations reportedly covering arms smuggling and alleged terror-network links associated with Ahmedabad’s Vatva area. Proceedings are stated to be under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Porbandar youths and alleged ISIS links
This case concerns the arrest of youths from Porbandar who were allegedly radicalised and linked to an Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) terror plot.
Hyderabad-based terror suspects and ricin allegations
The report names Hyderabad-based accused Doctor Saiyad Moiduddin and associates in connection with alleged links to ISIS and a suspected biological-terrorism conspiracy involving the production of ricin toxin.
Operation Sindhu and alleged ISI espionage
The case concerns Shahnawaz, a Nadiad resident accused of acting as a sleeper-cell operative or handler for Pakistan’s ISI. He allegedly downloaded sensitive information from defence websites and passed it on to handlers.
Palanpur terror module
Suspects from Palanpur and surrounding areas were allegedly linked to the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed organisation and accused of managing sleeper-cell networks.
Drug smuggling off Devbhumi Dwarka
The report also lists a case involving the alleged smuggling of 400 kg of heroin through a sea route near the coastline of Devbhumi Dwarka district.
Which laws apply to NIA cases?
Cases investigated by the NIA can involve offences listed in the Schedule of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008. Depending on the allegations, these may include terrorism, terror financing, activities of banned organisations, counterfeit currency, cyberterrorism and espionage-related offences.
The UAPA and other relevant laws may also apply, depending on the facts and charges in each case.
Why are the trials taking so long?
The report identifies lengthy witness examinations, prolonged cross-examinations and repeated adjournments as possible reasons for delays in the disposal of sensitive cases.
NIA investigations often involve extensive evidence collection, multiple accused and complicated financial or international links. However, delays between the filing of chargesheets and the conclusion of trials can leave cases unresolved for years.
For accused persons who are eventually acquitted, prolonged proceedings and pre-trial detention can have serious consequences. Victims’ families, meanwhile, may wait years for a final verdict.
Pending BJP leaders’ murder case raises further questions
The 2015 killing of the two BJP leaders in Bharuch remains a particularly sensitive case because of the allegations of contract killing and the time that has elapsed since the murders.
The supplied report alleges that proceedings have moved slowly despite directions from the Supreme Court for expeditious handling of sensitive cases. The status and applicability of any specific Supreme Court directions to individual pending matters would need to be verified from court records.
With around 30 of the 34 cases cited still awaiting judgments, the pace of proceedings in Ahmedabad’s special NIA courts has become a significant concern. The central question remains how quickly these long-pending cases can move towards trial completion and final judicial decisions.
