HomeCirculars › RBI/2023-24/34

UAPA Sanctions List Updated: One Entry Amended

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2023-24/34 · issued 05 Jun 2023 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all regulated entities to update their screening systems with the latest UNSC sanctions list amendment for one individual linked to ISIL/Al-Qaida, as per circular dated June 5, 2023.
Sanctions-list safety note. This circular refers to a specific UN Security Council / UAPA designated-entities list update as it stood on the date above — sanctions lists change often, and a newer update almost certainly exists today. Never use this page, or any single dated circular, as your current screening list. Always screen against the live, current list at the official UAPA proscribed-organisations list and the UN Consolidated List, and confirm the obligations for your bank on the official rbi.org.in source below.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A payments & clearing officer in Indore, working for a scheduled commercial bank, checks their existing accounts and transactions against the updated UNSC list and freezes any matches immediately to ensure compliance with RBI regulations.

What changed

The UNSC 1267/1989 ISIL & Al-Qaida Sanctions List has been amended for one entry: MERAI ABDEFATTAH KHALIL ZOGHBI (QDi.223), with updated aliases, DOB, and other details. This amendment was communicated via MEA and RBI circular dated June 5, 2023, based on UNSC press release SC/15307 of June 2, 2023.

What it means for you

Banks and regulated entities must take appropriate action in terms of Section 51 of the Master Direction on KYC and follow the procedure in the UAPA Order dated February 2, 2021 (amended March 15, 2023), including freezing assets and denying services to this individual. Failure to comply could lead to regulatory action. This reinforces the need for real-time sanctions screening and periodic list updates.

What you must do

Who it affects

All scheduled commercial banks, All non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), All payment system operators, All other regulated entities under RBI

❓ Common questions

What is the source of this sanctions list update?

The update comes from the UNSC Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267, 1989, and 2253, communicated via UNSC press release SC/15307 dated June 2, 2023, as informed by MEA.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2023-24/34 DOR.AML.REC.16/14.06.001/2023-24 June 05, 2023 The Chairpersons/ CEOs of all the Regulated Entities Madam/Dear Sir, Implementation of Section 51A of UAPA,1967: Updates to UNSC’s 1267/ 1989 ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List: Amendments in 01 Entry Please refer to Section 51 of our Master Direction on Know Your Customer dated February 25, 2016 as amended on May 04, 2023 (MD on KYC), in terms of which “Regulated Entities (REs) shall ensure that in terms of Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act, 1967 and amendments thereto, they do not have any account in the name of individuals/entities appearing in the lists of individuals and entities, suspected of having terrorist links, which are approved by and periodically circulated by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).” 2. In this connection, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India has informed about the UNSC press release SC/15307 dated June 02, 2023 wherein the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al‑Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities enacted the amendments specified with strikethrough and/or underline in the entry below on its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2610 (2021), and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. A. Individuals QDi.223 Name: 1: MERAI 2: ABDEFATTAH 3: KHALIL 4: ZOGHBI Name (original script): مرعي عبدفتاح خليل زغبي Title: na Designation: na DOB: a) 4 Apr. 1969 b) 4 Apr. 1960 c) 4 Jun. 1960 POB: Bengasi, Libya Good quality a.k.a.: a) Mohamed Lebachir born 14 Jan. 1968 in Morocco b) Meri Albdelfattah Zgbye born 4 Jun. 1960 in Bendasi, Libya c) Zoghbai Merai Abdul Fattah d) Lazrag Faraj born 13 Nov. 1960 in Libya e) Larzg Ben Ila born 11 Aug. 1960 in Libya f) Muhammed El Besir g) Merai Zoghbai (previously listed as, in Arabic: مرعي زغبي) Low quality a.k.a.: a) F’raji di Singapore b) F’raji il Libico c) Farag d) Fredj born 13 Nov. 1960 in Libya Nationality: Libya Passport no: na National identification no: na Address: na Listed on: 2 Aug. 2006 (amended on 3 Jun. 2009, 1 Sep. 2009, 13 Dec. 2011, 21 Mar. 2017, 24 Nov. 2020, 8 Nov. 2022, 2 Jun. 2023 ) Other information: Considered a fugitive from justice by the Italian authorities and sentenced in absentia to 6 years imprisonment on 20 Nov. 2008. Member of Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (QDe.011). Son of Mother’s name is Wanisa Abdessalam. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 1822 (2008) was concluded on 20 Jul. 2009. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 2368 (2017) was concluded on 24 November 2020. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 2610 (2021) was concluded on 8 November 2022. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals 3. In accordance with paragraph 58 of resolution 2610 (2021), the Committee has made accessible on its website the narrative summaries of reasons for listing of the above entries at the following URL: www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list/summaries . 4. Press release regarding the above can be found at https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15307.doc.htm . Further, the UNSC press releases concerning amendments to the list are available at URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/press-releases 5. The details of the sanction measures and exemptions are available at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267#further_information 6. In view of the above, REs are advised to take appropriate action in terms of Section 51 of the MD on KYC and strictly follow the procedure as laid down in the UAPA Order dated February 02, 2021(amended on March 15, 2023) annexed to the MD on KYC. 7. Updated lists of individuals and entities linked to ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and Taliban are available at: www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1988/materials 8. Further, as per the instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), any request for delisting received by any RE is to be forwarded electronically to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA for consideration. Individuals, groups, undertakings or entities seeking to be removed from the Security Council’s ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List can submit their request for delisting to an independent and impartial Ombudsperson who has been appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General. More details are available at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/ombudsperson/application 9. REs are advised to take note of the aforementioned UNSC communications and ensure meticulous compliance. Yours faithfully, (Santosh Kumar Panigrahy) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2023-24/34 · issued 05 Jun 2023. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
🧰 Tools — save, print, templates & related
Who does what — compliance checklist
💻 IT / Systems
  • Update your AML/KYC screening systems with the amended UNSC list entry for MERAI ABDEFATTAH KHALIL ZOGHBI.
📜 Compliance
  • Check existing accounts and transactions against the updated list and freeze any matches immediately.
  • Ensure compliance with Section 51 of the Master Direction on KYC and the UAPA Order dated Feb 2, 2021 (amended March 15, 2023).
  • Monitor UNSC press releases and the official sanctions list URLs for future amendments.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (All scheduled commercial banks, All non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), All payment system operators, All other regulated entities under RBI), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Updated: One Entry Amended” is: “Update your AML/KYC screening systems with the amended UNSC list entry for MERAI ABDEFATTAH KHALIL ZOGHBI.” (RBI issued this 05 Jun 2023).

  1. Circular: RBI/2023-24/34 -- UAPA Sanctions List Updated: One Entry Amended
  2. Issued: 05 Jun 2023
  3. Action required: Update your AML/KYC screening systems with the amended UNSC list entry for MERAI ABDEFATTAH KHALIL ZOGHBI.
  4. Action required: Check existing accounts and transactions against the updated list and freeze any matches immediately.
  5. Action required: Ensure compliance with Section 51 of the Master Direction on KYC and the UAPA Order dated Feb 2, 2021 (amended March 15, 2023).
  6. Action required: Monitor UNSC press releases and the official sanctions list URLs for future amendments.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12507&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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