Dawood Suleiman wanted to wage jihad against the country, NIA said (Representational photo)
Software professional Dawood Suleiman, the key leader and prime organiser of the Al Qaeda-inspired "Base Movement" module, wanted to wage jihad against the country, according to an NIA special public prosecutor.
"This was jihad... He (Suleiman) wanted to wage jihad. Several sections under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Explosives Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act have been invoked against him," said Special Public Prosecutor, NIA C S S Pillai after moving a plea in a court in Chennai for the accused's transit remand yesterday.
He was arrested in connection with his alleged role over a series of blasts in court complexes in South India.
After the XI Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Chennai granted transit remand for Suleiman, who was produced before it, he was taken by NIA sleuths to Bengaluru.
23-year-old Suleiman had done B.Tech in an engineering college in Erode and had allegedly confessed to planting a bomb in the Mysuru court.
He had also allegedly participated in other illegal activities of the group and will be produced before the 49th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court in Bengaluru, the official said.
An NIA official said he was calm when he confessed to his role in planting a bomb at a court complex in Mysuru when he was questioned.
A man of medium-built, Suleiman covered his face with a shawl when he was asked to do so when he left the court which was teeming with journalists and photo-journalists. His face was also covered when he was brought in.
Suleiman, a native of Madurai, was residing and working in a software firm in Chennai. He was arrested by an NIA team led by Superintendent of Police, NIA, LR Kumar on November 28.