A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Bengaluru has sentenced Mohammed Shariq to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with the 2022 Mangaluru cooker blast case, reported the IANS.
The verdict was delivered on Monday after the accused pleaded guilty during the trial.
Shariq was charged under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), including Sections 121A, 122 and 326. The court stated that the period he has already spent in custody will be set off against the total sentence.
He had initially pleaded not guilty in 2024 but later changed his plea in December 2025 under Section 229 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Second accused faces trial
The second accused, Syed Yasin, has pleaded not guilty. The trial against him will continue.
Both accused were produced before the court via video conference from prison, according to the IANS.
The incident took place on November 19, 2022 near Kankanady in Mangaluru.
Investigators said Shariq was allegedly on his way to plant an improvised explosive device near the Kadri Manjunath Temple when the cooker bomb exploded prematurely, preventing a larger tragedy.
Shariq sustained injuries in the blast, while the autorickshaw driver, Purushottam Poojary, was also hurt. After receiving treatment for nearly three months, Shariq was taken into NIA custody for further questioning.
Links to terror network
According to the NIA, Shariq is linked to an Islamic State-inspired module based in Shivamogga. He allegedly carried out trial blasts and painted anti-national graffiti in public places.
Officials claim the module has been connected to multiple terror-related incidents since 2020, as per the IANS.
The group is also under investigation in connection with the 2024 blast at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru.
“In pursuance of the MHA order, the NIA has taken over and registered a case related to the recovery of crude bombs in West Bengal. The case pertains to the recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot on April 25, thereby endangering human life and property. The NIA registered the case on April 26,” NIA said on Monday, according to the ANI.
(with IANS and ANI inputs)