Mumbai, July 8, 2026: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted coordinated searches at 20 locations across 10 states and the Union Territory of Delhi as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged online terror radicalisation network accused of propagating the ideology of the banned terrorist organisations Islamic State (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).
According to senior agency officials, the network was allegedly engaged in talent-spotting and recruiting vulnerable Indian youth to propagate violent jihad and orchestrate anti-India conspiracies aimed at establishing a "Caliphate".
In Maharashtra, the searches were conducted at three locations across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR)—Panvel in Navi Mumbai, Oshiwara in Mumbai, and Virar in Palghar district. Simultaneous searches were also carried out in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the Union Territory of Delhi as part of the NIA's investigation in case RC-01/2026/NIA/VSKP.
Searches Across Multiple States
According to the agency, several digital devices were seized during the operation and will be sent for forensic examination as the NIA attempts to identify additional members of the alleged radicalisation network and trace its digital footprint.
In Panvel, the NIA searched the residence of Sheikh Faiz Ur Rahman (21), a resident of Palm Plaza in Adarsh Housing Society, Old Panvel. Rahman was arrested by the Vijayawada Police on March 22 with the assistance of the Navi Mumbai Police in connection with the case, which was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Information Technology Act.
Rahman emerged as a key inter-state link in the alleged network. Investigators said he had established close contact with Pune-based operative Shahrukh Khan and Mohammad Rahmatullah Sharif, an alleged key member of the Vijayawada module. According to officials, Rahman operated under the "Benex Com" online umbrella group allegedly associated with ISIS. Along with other suspects across multiple states, he allegedly carried out directives issued by foreign-based handlers, disseminated extremist propaganda, and facilitated the expansion of the alleged sleeper network.
Sources said the searches in Oshiwara and Virar were conducted following a detailed connectivity analysis of Rahman's seized electronic devices and communication channels. Forensic data indicated that individuals based at these two locations were in active digital contact with Rahman, serving as secondary nodes for content dissemination.
Investigation Into Alleged Network
The case originated in Vijayawada after the Andhra Pradesh State Counter-Intelligence Cell detected suspected pro-ISIS online activity. The investigation led to the arrest of Mohammad Rahmatullah Sharif, whose mobile phones allegedly contained incriminating digital material linked to ISIS and AQIS. According to investigators, Sharif and his associates allegedly operated an online network under the banner of the "Al Malik Youth Islamic Committee" (AMYIC), using multiple Instagram and Telegram channels to disseminate extremist propaganda. The network allegedly operated under the direction of an overseas handler identified as Al-Hakeem Shukoor.
Officials said forensic examination of chat records, metadata, IP addresses, and mobile numbers enabled investigators to map the alleged inter-state network, leading to the identification of several suspects across multiple states, including Rahman in Panvel.
The case was initially investigated by the Andhra Pradesh Police, which earlier this year arrested 11 accused and a juvenile for their alleged links to ISIS and AQIS. The NIA took over the investigation from the Vijayawada Police in May.
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Probe Continues
According to the agency, the investigation has revealed that the arrested accused and their associates were allegedly involved in radicalising vulnerable youth across the country by disseminating violent extremist content and misinformation through online platforms. The accused were also allegedly in contact with foreign-based handlers to propagate ISIS and AQIS ideology and further what the agency described as an anti-India conspiracy aimed at establishing a so-called "Caliphate" through violent jihad.
The NIA said the investigation is continuing to identify other individuals allegedly associated with the network.
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