Chikkaballapur terror case: Court grants 4-day custody for 2 suspects
Synopsis
Two men arrested in Chikkaballapur over an alleged Telegram-based terror conspiracy have been remanded to four-day police custody — and the case has turned politically charged, with BJP's Leader of the Opposition claiming three senior party leaders were named as targets and demanding their immediate security cover.
Key Takeaways
A Chikkaballapur court on 29 September remanded Shabbir and Salman to four days of police custody in an alleged terror conspiracy case.
The accused are linked to a Telegram group where discussions on terror-related and disruptive activities were allegedly held, including plans to kidnap wealthy individuals for funding.
A case has been registered under Section 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) .
BJP Leader of the Opposition R.
Ashoka claimed MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal , former MP Pratap Simha , and MLC C.T.
Ravi were alleged targets and demanded their security.
Police have not confirmed Ashoka's claims about targets or whether the alleged plans moved beyond online discussions.
Investigators are examining digital evidence and tracing other alleged Telegram group members.
A local court in Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, on Tuesday, 29 September, remanded two men — Shabbir, a resident of Bapujinagar in Chikkaballapur, and Salman, reportedly from North India — to four days of police custody for further investigation into an alleged terror conspiracy. The two were produced before the Chikkaballapur Principal Civil and JMFC Court after their arrest by the Chikkaballapur City Police in connection with alleged discussions to carry out subversive and terror-related activities.
What the Case Involves
Police have registered a case under Section 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to terrorist acts. Investigators allege that the accused created or participated in a Telegram group where discussions were held about carrying out disruptive and terror-related activities. Authorities are probing whether these conversations progressed beyond the messaging platform into concrete preparations.
According to preliminary information, members of the group allegedly discussed kidnapping wealthy individuals to raise funds for terror-related activities. Investigators are also examining an allegation that the group administrator had promised weapons training to members after a specified period. Shabbir is reportedly believed to have joined the group approximately four months ago.
State of the Investigation
Police had sought five days of custody but the court granted four. Investigators are currently examining Shabbir's mobile phone and other digital evidence. They are also attempting to identify and trace other members of the Telegram group, establish their locations, and determine any possible links to wider networks. Police have not publicly confirmed that any attack was carried out or that the alleged plans progressed beyond online discussions.
BJP Demands Security for Leaders
The arrests drew an immediate political response. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, demanded security cover for three BJP figures — MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, former BJP MP Pratap Simha, and BJP MLC C.T. Ravi — claiming they were among the alleged targets of the conspiracy.
'In Chikkaballapur, a team of four terrorists had sketched a plan to kill MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, former BJP MP Pratap Simha and BJP MLC C.T. Ravi. The government should immediately provide security to these leaders,' Ashoka said in Bengaluru. He also alleged that the number of such individuals had increased after the Congress government came to power in Karnataka. However, police have not independently confirmed his claims regarding the alleged targets or the total number of people involved.
What Investigators Are Looking For Next
With the four-day custody period now running, investigators are expected to establish the identities of other alleged group members, determine the motive behind the discussions, and assess whether any concrete preparations were made beyond the digital exchanges. This comes amid a broader national focus on the use of encrypted messaging platforms for radicalisation and conspiracy planning. The outcome of the custody period is likely to shape whether additional arrests follow or charges are expanded.
Point of View
Yet Karnataka Police have yet to detail what, if any, operational capacity this group possessed beyond chat logs. The gap between 'discussions on a messaging app' and a credible terror conspiracy is significant, and the four-day custody period will be decisive in establishing which side of that line this case falls on.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chikkaballapur terror conspiracy case?
It is a case registered by Chikkaballapur City Police under Section 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against two men — Shabbir and Salman — who are alleged to have participated in a Telegram group where discussions about terror-related and disruptive activities were held. Police are investigating whether those discussions led to any concrete preparations.
Why were the suspects remanded to police custody and for how long?
The Chikkaballapur Principal Civil and JMFC Court granted four days of police custody on 29 September to allow investigators to examine digital evidence, trace other alleged group members, and establish the extent of the alleged conspiracy. Police had sought five days but the court approved four.
What are the specific allegations against the accused?
According to preliminary information, the accused allegedly participated in a Telegram group that discussed carrying out terror-related activities, kidnapping wealthy individuals to raise funds, and receiving weapons training arranged by the group administrator. Shabbir is reportedly believed to have joined the group around four months ago.
Which BJP leaders were claimed to be targets, and has this been confirmed by police?
BJP Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka claimed that MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, former MP Pratap Simha, and MLC C.T. Ravi were among the alleged targets of the conspiracy. Police have not independently confirmed these claims regarding the alleged targets or the total number of people involved.
What happens next in the investigation?
During the four-day custody period, investigators are expected to analyse Shabbir's mobile phone and other digital evidence, identify and locate other alleged Telegram group members, and determine whether the alleged plans moved beyond online discussions into any form of concrete preparation. Further arrests could follow depending on findings.
