NIA court sentences LeT operative Vikram Kumar to 7 years in Bengaluru prison radicalisation case
Synopsis
An NIA special court in Bengaluru has convicted its eighth accused in the 2023 prison radicalisation case — LeT operative Vikram Kumar, alias Chota Usman — sentencing him to seven years in prison. The case, rooted inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, exposed how LeT mastermind T Naseer allegedly built a terror network from behind bars, including a plot to engineer his own escape.
Key Takeaways
Vikram Kumar , alias Chota Usman , sentenced to 7 years rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹30,000 by the NIA special court in Bengaluru on 2 May .
He is the eighth accused to be convicted in the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case .
LeT operative T Naseer and six others were sentenced last month; Naseer allegedly orchestrated the conspiracy from inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison .
In May 2023 , Vikram allegedly collected hand grenades and walkie-talkies from a dead drop in Ambala, Haryana and delivered them to a co-accused in Bengaluru.
NIA has charged 12 accused in total; Junaid Ahmed remains at large.
All convicted accused pleaded guilty in July 2025 to charges of recruitment, training, and planning of terror activities.
A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Bengaluru has convicted and sentenced Vikram Kumar, alias Chota Usman, a key operative of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in connection with the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case. The verdict, announced on Saturday, 2 May, makes Vikram the eighth accused in the case to be convicted following the NIA's re-registration of the matter.
The Sentence
The NIA special court sentenced Vikram Kumar to seven years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹30,000 under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Explosive Substances Act. Last month, the same court had sentenced seven other accused, including the alleged mastermind and LeT operative T Naseer, who is said to have orchestrated the radicalisation conspiracy from within the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, Bengaluru, where he was lodged as an undertrial prisoner in connection with the 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts case.
How Vikram Kumar Was Radicalised
According to the NIA, Vikram Kumar was radicalised and recruited by T Naseer and co-accused Junaid Ahmed while he was incarcerated in Bengaluru prison. Even after his release, he reportedly remained in active contact with the two. Investigations revealed that in May 2023, Vikram allegedly collected a consignment of hand grenades and walkie-talkies from a
Point of View
The case is far from closed.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vikram Kumar alias Chota Usman?
Vikram Kumar, alias Chota Usman, is a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative who was radicalised and recruited while imprisoned in Bengaluru. He was convicted by the NIA special court on 2 May and sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for his role in the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case.
What is the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case?
The case involves the alleged radicalisation of prison inmates by LeT operative T Naseer inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru. The Bengaluru Central Crime Branch registered it in July 2023 after seizing arms, ammunition, and digital devices, and the NIA later took over, uncovering a wider conspiracy including an escape plot for Naseer.
Who is T Naseer and what is his role in this case?
T Naseer is an alleged LeT operative and life convict in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts case. He is accused of orchestrating the radicalisation of vulnerable inmates from inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison and was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment last month by the same NIA special court.
How many accused have been convicted so far in this case?
As of 2 May, eight accused have been convicted in the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case. The NIA has filed a chargesheet against 12 accused in total, with Junaid Ahmed still at large.
What charges did the convicted accused plead guilty to?
The convicted accused pleaded guilty in July 2025 to charges including recruitment, training, and planning of terror activities under the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Explosive Substances Act.
