Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, 18 August 2025 declared that security agencies had fully dismantled the Shehzad Bhatti network — one of the most expansive ISI-linked espionage modules uncovered on Indian soil in recent years. More than 200 operatives were arrested through coordinated sweeps spanning 14 states, with 80 First Information Reports registered across the country.

Scale and Complexity of the Operation

Officials involved in the investigation describe the Bhatti module as among the most structurally intricate they have encountered. Unlike conventional spy networks that focus on a single task, this module simultaneously ran surveillance operations, targeted killing plots, arms smuggling, and narcotics trafficking — a deliberate multi-pronged design, according to investigators, intended to confuse and overwhelm the agencies tracking it.

Notably, the module moved with unusual speed. Recruitments were completed and tasks assigned in rapid succession, leaving a narrow window for detection. An Intelligence Bureau official described it as one of the fastest-scaling covert networks they had monitored.

How Bhatti Recruited Indian Youth

Before his alleged induction into the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Shehzad Bhatti was a social media influencer — a background that reportedly gave him a significant edge in recruitment. According to officials, Bhatti and his aides would initiate extended conversations with young targets on social media platforms, systematically profiling their insecurities, financial pressures, and psychological vulnerabilities before drawing them in.

'He was looking deep into the minds of possible recruits and this is how he managed to play with their emotions before roping them in,' an official said. Crucially, money was not always the primary lure — emotional manipulation and a sense of belonging were equally powerful tools, investigators noted.

The Solar-Powered CCTV Surveillance Network

Among the most alarming discoveries was a network of solar-powered closed-circuit television cameras installed at vital and high-footfall installations, including railway stations. These cameras were reportedly transmitting live video feeds directly to handlers in Pakistan — a technique officials described as likely a first of its kind in an ISI-linked operation targeting India.

By the time the module was dismantled, a significant volume of live footage had already been transmitted, according to officials. The revelation triggered several high-level security reviews chaired by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and substantial changes to the security infrastructure at affected installations had to be carried out.

Government Response and Coordination

Home Minister Shah reportedly made dismantling the Bhatti network an explicit operational priority, directing agencies to act swiftly and ensuring seamless coordination among police forces across all 14 states. Officials credited this centralised oversight by the Home Ministry as the decisive factor in cracking what they described as one of India's largest such modules in recent memory.

What Comes Next: UAPA, Interpol Red Notice

Investigators are now pursuing a two-track legal strategy. A proposal to designate Shehzad Bhatti under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs following consultations between state and central agencies. Officials say there is sufficient evidence to support the designation.

In parallel, agencies plan to approach Interpol for a Red Corner Notice against Bhatti, along with a look-out notice. Officials said the evidence linking the module to both Bhatti and the ISI is robust enough to expect Interpol cooperation. The next phase of the operation will focus on preventing Bhatti from rebuilding or expanding his network from abroad.