Bhayandar man, 26, held in ISI-Mumbai underworld terror module case
Synopsis
A 26-year-old from Bhayandar has been arrested in a joint Delhi Special Cell-Maharashtra ATS operation linked to an alleged ISI-Mumbai underworld module with reported Dawood Ibrahim ties. Investigators say nearly 600 people across India were in touch with Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti, and the module was allegedly planning attacks in Delhi and Mumbai.
Key Takeaways
Huzaifa Farooq Ahmed Hashmi , 26 , was arrested from Bhayandar near Mumbai on 3 June .
The operation was jointly carried out by the Delhi Police Special Cell and the Maharashtra ATS .
A Thane court granted a three-day transit warrant ; Hashmi will be produced before the Patiala House Court on Friday.
Hashmi was allegedly in touch for a month with Yawar Khan , reportedly based in Pakistan.
Earlier on 30 May , the Special Cell arrested nine individuals with alleged links to the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate.
Nearly 600 individuals are reportedly in contact with Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti ; module allegedly planned attacks in Delhi and Mumbai.
A 26-year-old man identified as Huzaifa Farooq Ahmed Hashmi has been arrested from Bhayandar, near Mumbai, in connection with an alleged Pakistan-based ISI and Mumbai underworld terror module, officials confirmed on Wednesday, 3 June. The arrest was made in a joint operation by the Delhi Police Special Cell and the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), and forms part of a widening probe into a network allegedly linked to the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate.
Court proceedings in Thane
Following the arrest, Hashmi was produced before a court in Thane. The judge reportedly asked the accused whether he was aware of the reason for his arrest, to which he replied in the affirmative, according to official information shared after the hearing.
Investigators placed screenshots of the accused's chats and details of his banking transactions before the court while seeking his transfer to Delhi for further questioning at the Patiala House Court.
Three-day transit warrant granted
When the court asked how the accused would be moved to the national capital, the Delhi-ATS special team said he would be taken by train and sought a three-day transit warrant, which was approved. Hashmi is expected to be produced before the Patiala House Court on Friday.
According to investigators, Hashmi had been in contact for the past month with one Yawar Khan, who is allegedly based in Pakistan.
Part of a wider crackdown
The arrest follows a larger operation by the Delhi Police Special Cell on 30 May, when nine individuals were taken into custody for allegedly operating at the behest of a Pakistan-based ISI-Mumbai underworld network. Officials said the accused also had links with the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate.
Investigators have identified nearly 600 individuals across the country who were allegedly in touch with Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti through various channels, primarily social media platforms.
Mumbai arrests and alleged attack plan
As part of the same operation, Sajid Mehboob Sheikh, alias Arbaz Khan, was arrested from Kurla in Mumbai, while Tauqeer Rizwan Sheikh was apprehended from Mumbra. Both have been brought to Delhi for further investigation.
According to officials, the terror module was allegedly planning to carry out attacks in Delhi and Mumbai. Further interrogation is expected to map the financial trail and digital footprint of the suspects in the coming days.
Point of View
Kurla and Mumbra to expose the financial and logistical spine — and whether inter-agency coordination between Delhi's Special Cell and Maharashtra ATS can be sustained beyond the headline.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Huzaifa Farooq Ahmed Hashmi and why was he arrested?
Huzaifa Farooq Ahmed Hashmi is a 26-year-old arrested from Bhayandar, near Mumbai, in connection with an alleged Pakistan-based ISI and Mumbai underworld terror module. He was held in a joint operation by the Delhi Police Special Cell and the Maharashtra ATS.
What did the Thane court order in Hashmi's case?
The Thane court granted the Delhi-ATS special team a three-day transit warrant to take Hashmi to Delhi by train. He is expected to be produced before the Patiala House Court on Friday for further proceedings.
How is the case linked to the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate?
Officials say the broader network, which includes nine individuals arrested by the Special Cell on 30 May, allegedly operated at the behest of a Pakistan-based ISI-Mumbai underworld setup with links to the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate. Investigators are probing financial transactions and chat records to map these links.
Who is Shahzad Bhatti and what is his role?
Shahzad Bhatti is described by investigators as a Pakistani gangster allegedly at the centre of the network. Nearly 600 individuals across India have reportedly been in contact with him, primarily through social media platforms.
What were the alleged targets of the terror module?
According to officials, the module was allegedly planning to carry out attacks in Delhi and Mumbai. Arrests have so far been made in Bhayandar, Kurla and Mumbra, with the accused being moved to Delhi for further investigation.
