NIA files charges against two more in Islamic State conspiracy case

NIA on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against two more persons in the Shivamogga Islamic State (IS) conspiracy case, taking the total charge sheeted accused to 10. The duo has been identified as Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taaha and Mussavir Hussain Shazib, who were earlier charge sheeted by NIA in the Rameshwaram cafe blast case and for their involvement in Al-Hind IS module, Bengaluru.

Both are residents of Shivamogga district and were allegedly engaged in radicalising and recruiting gullible Muslim youths, including the co-accused, in the case.

The case, taken over by NIA from Karnataka police in November 2022, relates to anti-India activities of IS.


On Tuesday, NIA filed its third supplementary charge sheet before a special court in Bengaluru, naming the two under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Investigations in the case, originally filed in September 2022 by the state police, are ongoing. The module earlier made a failed improvised explosive device attack on the Karnataka BJP office on the day of the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22, according to the agency.

NIA said the module used dark web and cryptocurrency to fund their mission, and later the IED was planted at Rameshwaram cafe on March 1, resulting in injuries to at least nine persons. The investigation revealed that Shazib had planted the bomb. He, along with Taaha, had previously been absconding since 2020 after the Al-Hind module was busted, the agency said. Extensive searches by NIA had led to the arrest of the duo from their hideout in West Bengal 42 days after the Rameshwaram cafe explosion.