Chennai court summons Pakistani diplomat for planning terror attacks in India

Representative Photo

A Chennai court has summoned Pakistani diplomat Amir Zubair Siddiqui in connection with a money laundering scam and conspiracy to plot attack against India, Asianet News Malayalam has reported.

In a notice, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has accused Siddiqui of grave offences, including conspiracy to wage war against India, involvement in criminal conspiracy and circulation of counterfeit currency under the Indian Penal Code.

He has also been accused of terror-related charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

It mentioned that Siddiqui was planning to attack the US and Israeli consulates in India, and included his address in Pakistan’s Karachi.

The diplomat has been asked to appear before the NIA court on October 15.

Siddiqui was last posted in Sri Lanka where he worked at the Pakistan High Commission, Asianet reported.

The NIA put Siddiqui on its wanted list and released his photo in 2018, seeking information.

The NIA probe found that the diplomat, while working in Sri Lanka from 2009 to 2016, engaged people to indulge in espionage and terror activities in India.

Nicknamed ‘Boss’ on the NIA list, Siddiqui was charged in February that year along with two others for allegedly plotting 26/11-style attacks in southern India.

At the time, he was serving as a visa counsellor at the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The case traces back to March 2014, when Tamil Nadu Police arrested Sri Lankan national Mohd. Sakir Hussain in Chennai. Investigators said Hussain had entered India on Siddiqui’s instructions to carry out subversive activities.