Chennai man gets five-year prison in espionage case

The court pronounced the accused, Mohamed Saleem of Royapuram, guilty of charges of criminal conspiracy, possession of high quality counterfeit Indian currency notes and conspiracy, besides preparing to commit terrorist acts. NIA has also filed supplementary charge sheet against the then Pakistan High Commission official in Colombo, Amir Zubair Siddiqui, the absconding second accused, said to be linked to the Pakistani spy agency, ISI. 

The case pertains to the criminal conspiracy hatched by Mohamed Zakir Hussain, a Lankan national along with Mohamed Saleem and others along with the then officials of the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo, during early 2014 to set off explosives at the US Consulate and other sdia. Zakir Hussain, arrested in April 2014, was convicted that November.

Mohamed Saleem and Sivabalan were arrested in May 2014 when counterfeit Indian currency having a face value of Rs.2.5 lakh, were seized from Saleem’s possession. The case was transferred to the NIA in June, 2014. Saleem was convicted for possession of counterfeit notes, criminal conspiracy and under sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.