Delhi Police Bust Alleged ISIS-Inspired Module; Chargesheet Details Radical Links and Plot Against Senior Leaders
In a significant counter-terror development, the Delhi Police Special Cell has filed a chargesheet against five individuals accused of being part of an alleged ISIS-inspired module that was purportedly planning targeted attacks on prominent political and ideological figures in India.
According to investigators from the New Delhi Range of the Special Cell, two of the accused were suspected Islamic State operatives, while three others were described as close associates.
The police have claimed that the group was influenced by online radical content attributed to controversial preacher Zakir Naik and Pakistan-based clerics, including Maulana Tariq Masood, Maulana Tariq Jameel, Dr Israr Ahmed, and Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza.
Alleged Plot and Digital Trail
The chargesheet, submitted before a Delhi court earlier this month, states that the group allegedly discussed plans to assassinate senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a high-ranking functionary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Investigators said digital evidence formed a crucial part of the case.
Encrypted chats, social media interactions, and data retrieved from seized electronic devices have been cited as primary material in the prosecution’s case.
On September 9 last year, police arrested Aaftab Nasir Qureshi and Sufiyan Abubkar Khan in Delhi, alleging that they had arrived in the capital to procure arms and ammunition.
Subsequent coordinated raids across multiple states—including Delhi, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh—led to the arrest of three more accused.
The Accused
The five individuals named in the chargesheet are:
- Ashhar Danish (23), from Bokaro, Jharkhand
- Aaftab Nasir Qureshi (25), from Kalyan, Maharashtra
- Sufiyan Abubkar Khan (20), from Thane, Maharashtra
- Kamran Qureshi alias Samar Khan (27), from Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh
- Mohd Huzaif Yaman (20), from Nizamabad, Telangana
Police allege that Ashhar Danish created multiple online groups to evade scrutiny.
One such group was reportedly named “Ram Rajya Akhand Bharat,” while another group on the Signal messaging app was titled “CEO company,” where he allegedly portrayed himself as the leader under the alias “CEO.”
Cross-Border Contacts and Fundraising Plans
Investigators further claimed that Danish established contact with an individual identified as Hassan Bhatti, alias Hassan Mujahideen, based in Lahore, Pakistan.
According to the police, this connection began after Danish commented on a video of Dr. Israr Ahmed on Instagram.
The chargesheet alleges that Bhatti shared propaganda videos concerning alleged atrocities against Muslims in certain Indian states and claimed he intended to enter India via the Rajasthan border with hundreds of associates to wage what he described as a “Ghazwa” against the Indian government.
The police also allege that Danish and Kamran Qureshi discussed forming an NGO named “Mashriq” as a front to generate funds.
The chargesheet claims the funds were intended for procuring weapons, establishing arms manufacturing facilities, and setting up training grounds.
In a particularly serious allegation, investigators stated that Danish experimented with a TATP explosive in 2024 for trial purposes and later disposed of the material in the Subarnarekha River near Ranchi.
Investigation Ongoing
The Delhi Police have maintained that the case reflects a growing concern over online radicalisation and encrypted communication platforms being used for extremist coordination.
The matter is currently before the court, and further legal proceedings are awaited.
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