Observing that there cannot be any reason for any ‘ordinary, common, innocent man’ to destroy his cell phone and SIM card, a special court on Monday rejected the bail application of a man arrested in 2021 in an alleged terror plot case by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

Jakir Shaikh, an autorickshaw driver had sought bail on grounds including that the trial is yet to begin, four years since his arrest. He faces charges including criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The ATS had claimed that Shaikh had given instructions to his co-accused to destroy his cell phone and SIM card. The agency said that it was broken into pieces and destroyed to such an extent that th

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