Mon Sep 08 19:27:04 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
The Delhi High Court has upheld a decision denying the early release of Nasir Mohd. Sodozey, convicted for his role in the 1994 kidnapping of four foreign nationals. Sodozey, associated with the terrorist group Harqat-ul-Ansar, had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment. The court agreed with the Sentence Review Board’s assessment that his prolonged incarceration, exceeding 26 years, did not outweigh the severity of his crime, which aimed to destabilize the state and spread fear. The court emphasized the act as an attack on the rule of law and national security, particularly considering the subsequent release of a co-conspirator, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, after the hijacking of Indian Airlines IC-814.
### **News Article:**
**Delhi High Court Denies Early Release to 1994 Kidnapping Convict**
*New Delhi, September 9, 2025* – The Delhi High Court has rejected a plea for the early release of Nasir Mohd. Sodozey, convicted for his involvement in the 1994 kidnapping of four foreign nationals. The court’s decision upholds a 2023 ruling by the Sentence Review Board, which deemed Sodozey’s continued imprisonment necessary despite his having served over 26 years.
Sodozey, operating under the banner of the now-banned terrorist organization Harqat-ul-Ansar, was initially sentenced to death for his role in the kidnappings aimed at pressuring the Indian government to release jailed militants. The Supreme Court later commuted his sentence to life imprisonment in 2003.
In its August 21 judgment, Justice Sanjeev Narula stated that while prolonged incarceration is a relevant factor, it cannot outweigh the gravity of Sodozey’s crime. The court emphasized that the kidnapping was not a mere ordinary crime but “an attack upon the very fabric of civil order,” designed to destabilize the state and instill fear.
The court further noted the connection between Sodozey’s case and the subsequent release of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a key figure in the kidnapping conspiracy, following the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in 1999. The release of Sheikh, secured under duress, served as a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of the 1994 kidnapping.
Sodozey’s legal team argued that he had served beyond the maximum prescribed term of incarceration, including remissions, which they claimed was capped at 25 years. However, the police opposed the plea, citing Sodozey’s ongoing association with individuals involved in terrorist activities.
The Delhi High Court’s decision underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding national security and ensuring that those who commit acts of terrorism face appropriate consequences.
First Piper 