Pune Doctor Sentenced to Six Years in ISIS Recruitment and Radicalisation Case
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New Delhi , November 12 : A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has sentenced Pune-based anaesthetist Dr Adnan Ali Sarkar, 46, to six years of rigorous imprisonment for conspiring to promote the activities of the banned Islamic State (ISIS) terror outfit. Sarkar, who was arrested in July 2023, pleaded guilty to charges of recruiting youth, propagating ISIS ideology and conspiring to plan terror activities in India.
In its order, the court noted that Sarkar had expressed remorse and stated that he was "repenting of his wrong deeds". He also told the court that his decision was taken keeping his future and that of his family in mind.
While Sarkar has been convicted following his guilty plea, the trial against the five other accused in the case will continue.
Special Judge Abhay A Joglekar convicted Sarkar after confirming that his guilty plea was voluntary and made without any force, coercion, threat or undue influence.
Sarkar, who holds an MBBS and an MD in Anaesthesiology from BJ Medical College, Pune, had initially pleaded not guilty when charges were framed against him on June 25. However, on October 28, he approached the court seeking permission to change his plea. He cited the financial difficulties faced by his family during his incarceration, stating that his wife, four children and elderly parents were dependent on him.
The court granted him seven days to reconsider his decision and understand the legal consequences of pleading guilty. On Friday, Sarkar appeared before the court and reiterated his decision despite being informed about the possibility of conviction and sentencing.
Observing the seriousness of the offences, the court said that the punishment should serve as a deterrent, particularly in matters concerning national security. It stressed that such activities should not emerge in society in any form.
A renowned Pune Anaesthesiologist (MD, Gold medallist), Dr Adnan Ali contributed greatly to our understanding of Surgical Pleth Index. Away from medicine, he recruited for ISIS and planned terror attacks. He has just been convicted after he pleaded guilty.
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) November 10, 2026
You can't do anything. pic.twitter.com/dDybqQi9XI
The court awarded separate prison terms ranging from three to six years for different offences. However, all sentences will run concurrently, making his effective imprisonment six years. Since Sarkar has been in custody since July 27, 2023, the period already spent in jail will be deducted from his sentence. The court also imposed a fine of ₹65,000.
The case against Sarkar dates back to a 2015 investigation into alleged ISIS activities in Maharashtra. His name surfaced during a probe into a meeting allegedly organised by ISIS operatives in Pune in December 2015. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) questioned him in 2016 but did not arrest him at the time.
The NIA subsequently arrested Sarkar from Pune's Kondhwa area on July 27, 2023, alleging his involvement in propagating ISIS ideology and recruiting vulnerable youth into the terror organisation.
In December 2023, the NIA filed a charge sheet against Sarkar and five other accused, alleging a larger conspiracy involving international links and foreign-based ISIS handlers. According to the agency, the accused allegedly used social media platforms and online lectures to spread violent jihadist ideology, recruit members and promote the activities of the banned organisation.
The charge sheet also referred to material related to migration to Syria and ISIS propaganda publications, including Voice of Hind and Voice of Khurasan.