Mumbai: The case involving Bilal Teli, a 22-year-old man from Karnataka who was apprehended for allegedly trespassing and conducting reconnaissance inside the IIT Powai campus, has been transferred to the Mumbai Police's Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU). The shift comes after investigators reportedly recovered crucial electronic evidence from devices seized during his arrest.
Though officials have refrained from disclosing the nature of the digital evidence, they confirmed that national security agencies are now actively involved in the probe. Bilal is currently in 14-day police custody and is being interrogated intensively by CIU officers.
According to police sources, Bilal posed as a student and managed to stay illegally in various hostels inside the prestigious IIT Bombay campus between June 2–7 and June 10–17 — a total of 14 days. His presence went unnoticed until the IIT administration flagged suspicious activity and alerted local authorities.
CCTV footage from the premises helped police identify Bilal. Subsequent questioning led to the seizure of his mobile phone and other electronic gadgets, which have now been sent for forensic examination. Given the sensitive nature of the intrusion, central intelligence agencies have initiated a parallel investigation. Officials have also questioned Bilal’s family and associates.
A senior police officer stated that preliminary findings suggest Bilal’s activities inside IIT Powai were part of a "systematic reconnaissance operation." Authorities are now probing whether the act was linked to a larger threat. The case has raised concerns over campus security at premier institutions and how individuals can exploit administrative blind spots. Further updates are awaited as the investigation deepens.
