The special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has convicted and sentenced one more accused in the Bengaluru jail radicalization case of 2023. According to a press release issued by the NIA, Vikram Kumar alias ‘Chhota Usman’, associated with Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, has been sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment. With this the total number of culprits in this case has increased to eight.
The special court found Vikram Kumar guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Explosive Substances Act. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on him. According to the order, all the sentences will run concurrently and the time spent in judicial custody will be adjusted in the sentence.
Special court has sentenced another key LeT operative, Vikram Kumar @ Chota Usman, to 7 years RI, with fine, in the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case. Total convictions in the case have gone up to 8. pic.twitter.com/cMfl0RIC7g
— NIA India (@NIA_India) May 2, 2026
According to the investigating agency, Vikram Kumar became an Islamic fundamentalist while in jail and was included in their network by Lashkar-e-Taiba operative T Naseer and co-accused Junaid Ahmed. Even after his release from jail, he remained in touch with them. Investigation also revealed that in May 2023, he obtained hand grenades and walkie-talkies through ‘dead drop’ from Ambala, Haryana and delivered them to another accused in Bengaluru.
According to the NIA, Vikram was part of a larger conspiracy, which also included the plan to escape T Naseer from jail while he was being taken to court. The agency also said that he was being given financial assistance by co-accused Junaid Ahmed and he was involved in promoting terrorist activities in the country.
The matter came to light in July 2023, when the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) recovered arms, ammunition, grenades and communication equipment from the accused who were planning a terror attack in the city. Later in October 2023, the investigation was handed over to NIA, which exposed this entire network and conspiracy.
Investigation found that the accused, while lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Jail, were engaged in radicalizing the youth and recruiting them for terrorist activities. This conspiracy was being hatched under the anti-India agenda of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Earlier on April 22, the NIA special court had sentenced seven other accused in this case, including the main conspirator T Naseer. All the accused have confessed to their crime.
The court has ordered that a copy of the judgment be provided to the convict and a warrant of punishment be issued against him. Also, the judicial custody of other accused has been extended till May 22. The continuous conviction in this case clearly indicates that the investigating agencies are taking strict action against terrorist networks and radicalization activities in the country.
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