ORDER

1. The petitioners herein are accused Nos.1 to 21 in Crime No.276 of 2013 of Mayyil Police Station, registered under Sections 143, 147, 153(B) r/w Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code, u/s 5(1) r/w Section 25(1)(a) of the Arms Act, u/s 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and under Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (“UAPA” for short). Subsequently Section 153(A) of IPC and Section 13(1)(a)(b) and Section 18 of the UAPA were also invoked and the case was transferred to National Investigating Agency (for short ‘NIA’) for further investigation.

2. The petitioners were arrested on 24.04.2013 and since then are in custody. After completion of investigation charge-sheet was filed by the NIA on 19.10.2013 against the petitioners. The charge-sheet, inter alia, stated the allegations against each of the petitioners and the materials on the basis of which such allegations were leveled. It also stated in paragraphs 18.2 and 18.3 that requisite sanction under Sections 18 and 18A of the UAPA was accorded by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, vide order dated 17.10.2013 and also that sanction under Section 7 of the Explosive Substances Act was accorded