NIA | Business Upturn

BJP rejects Mamata Banerjee’s bomb claims, intensifying political tensions in West Bengal

Niraj Jadhav — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:56:52 +0000

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday escalated political tensions in West Bengal by alleging a conspiracy to disrupt the upcoming elections and urging a probe by the National Investigation Agency.

Mamata Banerjee flags alleged threat to election security

Addressing a high-voltage rally, the Chief Minister claimed, “BJP is planning to plant bombs during the Bengal polls. Let the NIA come and investigate.” Her remarks come at a crucial stage of campaigning, where security and electoral integrity have become key talking points. As per the reports in NDTV and The Indian Express, Banerjee has consistently raised concerns over law and order and alleged interference in the poll process, especially in sensitive border districts like Cooch Behar.

BJP rejects allegations, political clash intensifies

The Bharatiya Janata Party has strongly denied the claims, terming them politically motivated. Party leaders have accused the ruling All India Trinamool Congress of attempting to shift focus from governance issues by making serious but unverified allegations. The exchange underscores the sharp political contest between the BJP and TMC as both parties intensify their outreach efforts ahead of polling.

Election security measures under spotlight

The allegations have once again brought attention to election security arrangements in West Bengal. As per the reports in The Hindu, authorities deploy central forces, flying squads, and surveillance systems to ensure free and fair elections. Officials have maintained that robust mechanisms are in place to prevent any disruptions and to safeguard voters during the polling process.

High-stakes Bengal polls drive strong rhetoric

With the West Bengal elections approaching, campaign rhetoric has grown increasingly aggressive. Analysts suggest that issues of security, governance, and political accountability are likely to shape voter sentiment in key constituencies. As the campaign enters its final phase, all eyes remain on how authorities respond to such allegations and ensure a transparent electoral process.

NIA arrests suspect in Mizoram arms trafficking case

Aditya Bhagchandani — Mon, 27 May 2024 10:42:13 +0000

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made a significant breakthrough in its crackdown on arms, ammunition trafficking, and explosives smuggling, with the arrest of an individual following extensive searches in gun shops and other locations in Mizoram.

In a coordinated operation across six locations, including two gun shops, in the Aizawl district of Mizoram, the NIA apprehended Solomona, also known as Hminga. The raids yielded a substantial quantity of explosives material, ammunition, digital devices, documents, and other incriminating materials.

Solomona’s arrest comes as the second breakthrough in the case (RC-31/2023/NIA/DLI), which was registered on December 26, 2023. The case pertains to a large-scale illegal arms, ammunition, and explosives supply network operating in the northeastern region of the country.

NIA investigations have unveiled the establishment of a network by the accused in the bordering areas of Myanmar and Mizoram, facilitating the procurement, transfer, and smuggling of arms, ammunition, and explosives into Mizoram and Manipur from across the Myanmar border.

Previously, Laigaihawma was arrested in connection with the case, while his associate Lalmuanawma, also known as Mangliana, remains absconding. Lalmuanawma, originally from Myanmar, along with their associates in Myanmar, has been implicated in supplying arms and ammunition to armed groups in Myanmar and Manipur.

The ongoing investigations have further unraveled the usage of hawala channels for transferring payments related to arms and ammunition trafficking. The NIA continues its relentless efforts to dismantle the nefarious network and bring all perpetrators to justice.

NIA court denies Dawood Ibrahim gang member bail in terror activities case

Sidharth Badlani — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 14:41:05 +0000

Salim Qureshi, a member of fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim’s gang who was detained by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for allegedly supporting the group’s terrorist activities, was denied bail by a special court here on September 18.

Salim Qureshi, also known as Salim “Fruit,” was an important member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang and a close associate of wanted gangster Chhota Shakeel. Special NIA judge B D Shelke denied Salim’s request for bail.

According to the federal investigation agency, Qureshi actively participated in extorting sizable sums of money in Shakeel’s name from property transactions and dispute resolutions in order to raise “terror funds in furtherance of terrorist activities of D-company.”

On February 3, 2022, the agency registered a case involving “terrorist and criminal activities” by fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his associates, including smuggling, narco-terrorism, money laundering, circulation of fake currency, raising terror funds, and working in active collaboration with international terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Al Qaeda. ARU PTI AVI.

NIA stands for the National Investigation Agency. The NIA is a federal agency in India responsible for investigating and combating terrorism and other national security-related matters. It was established in 2009.

NIA investigating 11 cases of gangster terror attack: Union Home Minister to Lok Sabha

News Desk — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 11:42:32 +0000

Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, on Tuesday replying to a question from Kunwar Danish Ali of Bahujan Samaj Party, apprised Lok Sabha that, the National Investigating Agency, NIA, is investigating eleven cases in which it has found the nexus among terrorists, drug smugglers and Traffickers based in India and abroad. The Minister was replying to the question of whether, the government is aware of the increase in the nexus between terrorists, and drug smugglers based in India and abroad.

The state home minister brought out that, of the total eleven cases, a chargesheet has been filed on 115 people in ten cases and a total of 112 arrests have been made in all the cases. The minister further brought out that, of the total eleven such cases only one such case has been filed this year, four cases each were registered in 2020 and 2021, and two such cases were registered in 2019. The minister apprised the Lok Sabha that, NIA’s gangster-terror nexus is based on Delhi special cell in August, where it registered four cases.

Nityanand Rai, further recorded that, more than a hundred locations have been raided by the agency this year with the highest 52 raids, in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and the National Capital Region in September.

The State Home Minister told the Lok Sabha that, the kingpins of these nexus-based gangs have been identified and booked during the ongoing investigation by the agency. The NIA is the premier counter-terrorism law enforcement agency of India. NIA reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

TN govt recommends NIA probe into car blast case

United News of India (UNI) — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 09:34:08 +0000

The Tamil Nadu Government on Wednesday recommended to the Centre to order a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the Coimabtore car blast, in which a suspected IS radicalist Jameesha Mubin, was killed early on Sunday.

A decision to recommend NIA probe was taken at a high level meeting chaired by Chief Minister M.K.Stalin at the State Secretariat in which the present status of the investigation by the State police and the preventive measures put in place in Coimbatore in the wake of the blast were discussed.

NIA raids PFI estates and offices across country

Dipankar Ray — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 12:17:59 +0000

The National Investigative Agency on Thursday, 22 September 2022 carried out multiple raids on the compounds of many leaders and associates of the Popular Front of India(PFI). They had raided the offices of PFI and had raided estates of many office bearers across 13 states. The operations were carried out smoothly without any allegations of violence or conflict, top government officials told CNN-News18.

Kerala | Popular Front of India (PFI) calls for a one-day state-wide strike on 23rd Sep over NIA raids and the arrest of some of its leaders.

— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2022

A special PMLA court in Lucknow has received two charge sheets from National Investigative Agency against PFI and its office holders. This is not the first time that the party is being questioned or investigated. The enforcement directorate had filed a charge sheet against the party in February last year. The charge sheet was filed both against PFI as well as its student wing Campus Front Of India(CFI) on money laundering allegations and that its members had tried to spread communal hatred and violence in the fallout of the Hathras gang rape case in 2020.

According to the latest information received over 20 party workers and leaders were arrested in Maharashtra. Police have claimed that they were engaged in “Anti-National Activities”. K A Rauf Sherif, national general secretary of CFI and a member of PFI, Atikur Rahman, Masud Ahmed, general secretary of CFI located in Delhi, Siddique Kappan, a journalist “affiliated with PFI,” and Mohammed Alam, another CFI/PFI member, are among those listed in the charge sheet.

In this context, PFI has called for “hartal” in Kerala on after the raids conducted by NIA and the suggestion by the agency on the possible terror links of the organisation.

The second charge sheet that was filed this year dealt with the party having a money laundering front in the form of a hotel based in UAE.

(With inputs from PTI)

NIA arrests 3 ‘ISIS cadres’ for radicalizing youth through ISIS propaganda

Bhomik Mathur — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 16:30:39 +0000

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday, June 11, arrested 3 persons accused of disseminating the propaganda of the proscribed global terror organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The arrests of the ‘ISIS cadres’ were made in a case related to the ‘Voice of Hind’ magazine from the Anantnag district of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

Through a press release, the investigation of agency NIA informed that “ISIS terrorists operating from various conflict zones along with ISIS cadres in India, by assuming pseudo- online identities, have created a network wherein ISIS-related propaganda material is disseminated for radicalizing and recruiting members to the fold of ISIS.”

NIA arrests three ISIS cadres in ISIS Voice of Hind( VOH) Case pic.twitter.com/O1A2t1LLwo

— NIA India (@NIA_India) July 12, 2021

An India-focused ISIS propaganda magazine the ‘Voice of Hind’ is published monthly to radicalize and incite young and impressionable people. The three accused persons arrested are-

Umar Nisar
Tanveer Ahmad Bhat
Rameez Ahmed Lone

Earlier on 29 June, the NIA had registered a case in this connection under Sections 124A, 153A, and 153B of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 17, 18, 18B, 38, 39, and 40 of the UA(P) Act of 1967. Previous searches at the premises of the arrested persons had led to the recovery of documents, several digital devices, and T-shirts having the logo of ISIS. The NIA has concluded on the basis of preliminary investigations that the arrested persons are ISIS cadres and have been using the Voice of Hind magazine to propagate inciteful material.

Additional searches were also conducted in Anantnag on Monday leading to the seizure of some digital devices and other materials.

NIA arrests Mumbai Police officer Riyaz Kazi, while CBI summons 2 PAs of former HM Anil Deshmukh

Shreejit Shelar — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 08:47:44 +0000

Mumbai Police officer Riyaz Kazi was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday, in connection to the Antilia Bomb scare and Mansukh Hirem death case. The agency said Police officer – Riaz had helped Sachin Waze in the plotting of the Antilia case, who has been arrested by the NIA in the same case, reported Hindustan Times.

Waze and Kazi were known to hold the same post – Assistant Police Inspector in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU). The two are also being investigated in connection with the death of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran, who was found dead in a creek on March 5. Apart from being his colleague in the CIU before the suspension, Kazi is also reported to be a close aide of Sachin Waze.

Hiran’s Scorpio was allegedly used by Waze to plant the explosives outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence Antilia on February 25.

The Bombay High Court accepted NIA demand for Waze’s judicial custody, for interrogation and ordered the suspended Mumbai Police Officer, to remain in NIA custody till April 23.

The NIA took over both the cases (Antilia bomb scare, and death of businessman Mansukh Hiran) last month from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), following orders from the Union home ministry.

Several reports quoted the NIA sources who suggest, Sachin Waze’s role wasn’t limited to the plotting of explosives-laden SUV near Mukesh Ambani’s residence and the murder of Mansukh Hiren. Waze was involved in planning another big conspiracy in the name of a terrorist organization. Before he could carry out his second plot, he got trapped in his own woven net and is now in NIA captivity.

The agency has recorded statements of more than 40 people, former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh and two deputy commissioners as well as a dozen cops from the crime intelligence unit, in connection with the Antilia case.

Singh was transferred from his role as Mumbai’s police commissioner for his handling of the case.

Meanwhile, in his letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Singh accused former Maharashtra Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh of asking Waze and other police officers to extort ₹100 crores from restaurants and bars in Mumbai.

In a recent turn of events, the CBI on Sunday called on personal assistants of the NCP leader for questioning, in connection with allegations of corruption levelled against him by ex-Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned two personal assistants of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh to record their statement

CBI is investigating the allegations of former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh against Anil Deshmukh pic.twitter.com/FkKZ8pCfWE

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2021

Personal assistants, Sanjeev Palande and Kundan were reportedly asked to appear before the CBI team for questioning in connection with the preliminary enquiry registered by the agency on the directives of the Bombay High Court.

NIA takes Sachin Waze to Mithi river bridge in Mumbai after divers recovers hard-disk, number plate

Nitin Anand — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 14:00:53 +0000

On Sunday, March 28, National Investigation Agency (NIA) took Sachin Waze to the bridge over Mithi river in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex in connection with the probe of Mansukh Hiren death case.

Divers of NIA have recovered two computer CPUs, a laptop, two number plates carrying the same registration number, and other items from Mithi river in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex as the agency probes the death of Mansukh Hiren, reports news agency ANI.

Maharashtra: NIA takes Sachin Waze to the bridge over Mithi river in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex in connection with the probe of Mansukh Hiren death case.

Divers have recovered a computer CPU, number plate of a vehicle, and other items from the river. pic.twitter.com/nIxN60tOU7

— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2021

Accused Sachin Waze confessed that some pieces of evidence were tossed into Mumbai’s Mithi river being confronted with circumstantial evidence. With help of divers, NIA today recovered DVRs, CPU, laptop, vehicle number plates & other items from the river.

The recovered DVRs (Digital Video Recorders) are of his housing society where the Scorpio car was parked between February 17-February 24, of shops where various number plates were made and of other places where Waze suspected that his movement could have been captured.

These pieces of evidence were in Waze’s custody till the time of Mansukh’s death.

The main case is that on February 25, 2021, an abandoned vehicle – Scorpio, that contained 20 sticks of the explosive gelatin, was found parked near the residence of Mukesh Ambani’s residence ‘Antilia’. The Scorpio which was found with the explosives belonged to Mansukh Hiren, who was thane based business man.

Maharashtra: NIA divers recover one more computer CPU, a laptop, two number plates with same registration number on them, and other items from Mithi river in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex as part of probe into death of Mansukh Hiren.

Accused Sachin Waze is present at the spot. pic.twitter.com/MMDwZ6W1o5

— ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2021

Mansukh Hiren had already claimed that his car was stolen on February 17 2021. Later, in Hiren’s body was brought out of Mumbra creek Thane on March 5.

Antilia Case: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut blames misuse of central agencies to impose Presidential Rule in Maharashtra

Nitin Anand — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 06:35:11 +0000

Amid rise in demand of resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh after being accused by former Mumbai Police chief Param Bir Singh for malpractices, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has reacted to the issue and has accused the misuse of central agencies to impose President’s Rule in the state.

News agency ANI quoted Raut’s statement on the issue, “If someone is attempting to get President’s Rule imposed in Maharashtra by misusing central agencies, then I am warning them – you yourself will get burnt in that fire”.

If someone is attempting to get President's Rule imposed in Maharashtra by misusing central agencies, then I am warning them – you yourself will get burnt in that fire: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut pic.twitter.com/96Yc1dNFk4

— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2021

Sanjay Raut further said, “If NCP chief (Sharad Pawar) has decided that the allegations should be probed, then what is wrong? Anyone can level any allegation. If people take ministers’ resignation just like that then it will be difficult to run the government”.

Raut also answered to those who are continuously demanding HM’s resignation. He said, “HM (Anil Deshmukh) said that the contents of ‘letter bomb’ should be probed, CM should probe it. NCP chief said that it should be investigated. If the govt is ready to accept the challenge of probing this, then why is the issue of resignation being raised repeatedly?”

HM (Anil Deshmukh) said that the contents of 'letter bomb' should be probed, CM should probe it. NCP chief said that it should be investigated. If the govt is ready to accept the challenge of probing this, then why is the issue of resignation being raised repeatedly?: Sanjay Raut

— ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2021

The controversy raised after former Mumbai Police chief Param Bir Singh wrote a letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray, making serious allegations against Home Minister of the state Anil Deshmukh for ordering API Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month from various bars and restaurants around the city.

Earlier, Parma Bir Singh was removed from his post of Mumbai Police Commissioner for allegedly mishandling the Antilia bomb scare case. Currently the case is being probed by the central agency National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Nagrota encounter: Pakistan leaves trails all over-Phones, medicines, weapons, wireless, GPS

Shalmali Bhagwat — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 06:29:08 +0000

Smartphones made in Pakistan and Digital Mobile Radio of QMobile and micro-electronics containing coded messages were found in possession of the four militants shot in an encounter in Nagrota on Thursday, as disclosed by J&K Police source.

As reported by The Economic Times, the militants also possessed medicines manufactured in Pakistan, apart from GPS devices and a wireless set. Some text message received by the militants, elaborating on the latest updates of the operation has also been recovered from a Digital Mobile Radio manufactured by Pakistani company Micro Electronics.

In addition to that, 11 AK assault rifles, 24 magazines and 7.5 kg of RDX along with 20 m of IED wire and six detonators were recovered. Possessions include one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), 29 grenades, five rifle grenades, three pistols with six magazines, a wireless set and a GPS, according to sources.

The initial investigations by the J&K Police revealed that the terrorists crossed the International Border in Jammu and were joined by a courier in a truck at a pre-designated spot on the national highway south of Samba.

The truck was supposed to transport them to Kashmir but was intercepted at the Ban Toll Naka in Jammu, based on specific inputs generated by intelligence agencies. The terrorists opened fire when the police attempted to check the truck, leading to two injuries among the policemen. In the gunfight that followed, all four terrorists were killed.

J&K Police investigations have concluded the intentions of the terrorists to cause disruption by carrying out a large attack ahead of the District Development Council (DDC) polls to derail the entire election process.

“Inputs indicate that the elections scheduled in the Union Territory to establish the third and final tier of the local bodies for governance have unnerved terrorists and Pakistani agencies. The elections have already seen massive participation in terms of nominations and an enthusiastic response from the public. The Pakistani terrorists and the huge quantity of weapons were to be used to thwart this process of democratic decentralisation,” an official of the Union Home Ministry said.

The findings clearly point towards militants’ contact with their Pakistan-based handlers before they were slain, the source said. India is likely to raise the issue with the international community. Pakistan is in the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force and faces sanctions if it is blacklisted.

Kerala Gold Smuggling accused Sandeep Nair agrees to give a Confession Statement

Akanksha Yadav — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 10:50:30 +0000

In a turning point into the development of the Kerala gold smuggling scandal, one of the key accused Sandeep Nair has filed an application in Kochi NIA court stating that he is ready to give a confession statement under CrPC 164 & turn approver in the case. NIA will record his confession statement before the CJM Court. The NIA court in Kochi has granted permission to record his confession statement on his request.

Following the petition, NIA Court Judge P Krishna Kumar has examined him via a video conferencing. Sandeep has been told that by admitting the crime, there is no guarantee of getting a pardon in the case or that he will be made an approver.

On September 22, the prime accused had agreed to provide a confession statement admitting to the crime in Court. He was granted bail on the same day by Kochi Court but was not allowed to leave the Viyyur Central Jail, in Thrissur district as he was accused in other cases filed by NIA.

The Kerala gold smuggling scam came to light after the Customs department seized 30 kg gold from an air cargo consignment from the UAE to the country’s consulate in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5 and he was arrested along with Swapna Suresh by the NIA from Bengaluru on July 11. NIA had searched his house in Thiruvananthapuram and found some incriminating material. He was also accused in the case registered by Customs and Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Kerala: Sandeep Nair, the fourth accused in Kerala gold smuggling case, has filed an application in Kochi NIA court stating that he is ready to give a confession statement under CrPC 164 & turn approver in the case. NIA will record his confession statement before the CJM Court

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2020

NIA ordered to attach a property owned by father of Irshad Ahmed Teshi, who was involved in attack on CRPF Group in 2018

Agatha Boustin — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 11:06:01 +0000

The National Investigation Agency on Saturday ordered the attaching of property belonging to Nazir Ahmad Reshi. His son, Irshad Ahmad Reshi, was arrested for attacking the CRPF Group Centre at Lethpora in December 2018.

“Five of the CRPF personnel at Lethpora were killed. Three others had got injured, ” ANI reported regarding the attack. In 2019, 4 charge sheets had been filed against Fayz Ahmad Magray, Nisar Ahmad Tantray, Syed Andrabia, and Irshad Ahmad Reshi.

More details regarding the property are awaited.

Kerala Congress members demanding Minister KT Jaleel’s resignation detained outside NIA office

Anjana Krishna — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 07:55:45 +0000

Kerala Congress workers protesting outside the office of National Investigation Agency(NIA) in Kochi, demanding State Higher Education Minister KT Jaleel’s resignation have been detained by police on Thursday. Jaleel reached the Kochi office of the NIA for questioning over his connection with UAE consulate and gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh.

He was also interrogated by the Enforcement Directorate earlier for the same. After Suresh’s arrest in July he denied having any links with the accused and claimed that, he had contacted her based on the direction of the Consul General of the UAE consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. He is also being probed for the violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, as he allegedly accepted foreign aid without consulting the Centre.

Ever since the the gold smuggling case became a controversy involving the ruling CPI(M) government the opposition has been protesting and demanding the resgination of the ministers involved.

NIA investigations revealed details on states in which Islamic State most active

Pravin Suryawanshi — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 06:38:22 +0000

New Delhi: Monsoon session of Parliament is taking place under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, India-China border tension at LAC, and economic crisis. The day 2 of Parliament witnessed a fiery debate with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh giving a speech on the border row, while the opposition demanded information on migrant deaths as well as Bollywood’s nexus with drug traffickers and NIA investigations on the Islamic state.

NIA investigations revealed that Islamic State (IS) most active in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, WB, Rajasthan, Bihar, UP, MP & J&K.

MoS MHA G Kishan Reddy in a written reply in RS on ‘details on states in which IS terrorists most active’ of the NIA investigations on Islamic states active in which states and where will be the most IS terrorist will be active.

NIA arrests “ISI agent” in Gujarat for involvement in Espionage activities and working for Pakistan’s ISI

Pravin Suryawanshi — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 05:45:14 +0000

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key accused Giteli Imran, a resident of Gujarat, yesterday for his involvement in espionage activities and working for Pakistan’s ISI.

According to National Investigation Agency (NIA), this case relates to an international espionage racket in which Pakistan-based spies recruited agents in India for collecting sensitive and classified information regarding locations/movements of Indian Naval Ships and Submarines and other defense establishments.

NIA arrests a key suspect working for Pak’s ISI for providing confidential information of various Indian movements and fields.

Further investigation is underway reported by The National Investigation Agency (NIA).