Arafath Ali Convicted in Shivamogga ISIS Case

A special court of the India — National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Bengaluru has convicted and sentenced Arafath Ali to six years of rigorous imprisonment in the 2022 Shivamogga ISIS Terror Conspiracy case. Arafath Ali, an active member of the banned Islamic State (ISIS), was involved in propagating its violent ideology, radicalizing and recruiting youth, and instigating inflammatory graffiti in Mangaluru. He also acted as a funding channel for the Shivamogga ISIS terror module, receiving and disbursing terror funds through Tether (cryptocurrency). Arafath Ali had fled India in January 2020 to evade arrest but was apprehended by the India — National Investigation Agency (NIA) in September 2023 upon his return. This is the third conviction in the case, following the sentencing of Mohammed Zabiulla and Nadeem Faizal in November 2025. The trial against nine other accused, including those linked to the Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast case and Mangaluru cooker blast case, is ongoing. The case was initially registered by the India — Karnataka Police in September 2022 after a stabbing incident in Shivamogga.