NIA arrests 10th accused in Malappuram explosives case; Haris TA held from Manjeri
Synopsis
Ten people are now in NIA custody over one of Kerala's largest illegal explosives seizures — 89,600 explosive sticks and 10,500 shock tubes found in a single lorry in Malappuram in February. The latest arrest of alleged main conspirator Haris TA, combined with three Karnataka-based licensed dealers nabbed a day earlier, reveals a cross-state network that exploited legitimate licensing to move a cache large enough to cause mass destruction.
Key Takeaways
The NIA arrested Haris TA from Manjeri, Malappuram on Saturday , bringing total arrests in the case to ten .
The case stems from the seizure of 89,600 explosive sticks and 10,500 shock tubes (NONEL) from a lorry in Malappuram on 7 February .
Three accused — Mantagoud Biradar , Bapagoud Bheeramaya Choudri , and Prakash Gauda Biradar — were arrested from Vijayapura, Karnataka on 7 August .
The Karnataka trio were reportedly licensed explosives dealers who allegedly sold the consignment in violation of legal requirements.
The NIA has conducted searches at 19 locations across three states ; the investigation into the larger conspiracy is ongoing.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Haris TA, identified as a main conspirator in the illegal procurement of explosives, from Manjeri in Malappuram on Saturday, taking the total number of arrests in the case to ten. The arrest is the latest development in a probe stemming from the seizure of a massive cache of illegal explosives in Kerala's Malappuram district earlier this year.
The Original Seizure
The case traces back to 7 February, when Kerala Police intercepted a lorry bearing registration number KL 10 BF 8395 parked in the compound of Farha Hollow Bricks Company on the Chemmad-Thalappara Road in Malappuram. The vehicle was found carrying 89,600 explosive sticks and 10,500 shock tubes (NONEL) — a consignment of alarming scale. Three persons found in connection with the lorry were arrested on the spot. 'The accused did not possess valid licences or permissions for transporting or possessing the explosives,' the NIA said in a statement.
NIA Takes Over the Probe
Following the initial arrests, the NIA re-registered the case and assumed charge of the investigation. The agency conducted searches at 19 locations across three states, recovering incriminating material and identifying additional conspirators. The multi-state sweep signals that the network behind the illegal explosives movement extended well beyond Kerala.
A String of Arrests Across States
The arrest of Haris came just a day after the NIA detained three more accused from Vijayapura in Karnataka on 7 August. Those three — Mantagoud Biradar, Bapagoud Bheeramaya Choudri, and Prakash Gauda Biradar — are all natives of Vijayapura district. According to investigators, these accused were licensed dealers and users of explosives who allegedly sold the seized consignment in violation of applicable legal requirements, raising concerns about the misuse of legitimate licensing frameworks.
Investigation Ongoing
The NIA has confirmed that the probe into the larger conspiracy, including the full chain of illegal procurement and interstate movement of the explosives, is continuing. With ten arrests across multiple states and searches spanning three, the scale of the alleged network suggests investigators are still working to map its full extent. Further arrests cannot be ruled out as the agency pursues remaining leads.
Point of View
600 sticks are — but that licensed dealers allegedly provided the supply chain cover. India's explosives licensing regime was designed as a safeguard; here, it appears to have functioned as camouflage. The NIA's multi-state sweep points to a procurement network with enough institutional knowledge to exploit regulatory gaps. Whether this was destined for criminal use, industrial black-market resale, or something more serious remains publicly unanswered — and that silence is itself a story investigators must resolve transparently.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Haris TA and why was he arrested?
Haris TA is identified by the NIA as a main conspirator in the illegal procurement of explosives at the centre of the Malappuram case. He was arrested on Saturday from Manjeri in Malappuram, making him the tenth person held in connection with the case.
What explosives were seized in the Malappuram case?
Kerala Police seized 89,600 explosive sticks and 10,500 shock tubes (NONEL) from a lorry parked at the Farha Hollow Bricks Company compound on Chemmad-Thalappara Road in Malappuram on 7 February. None of the accused possessed valid licences for transporting or possessing the explosives.
Who were the three accused arrested from Karnataka?
The NIA arrested Mantagoud Biradar, Bapagoud Bheeramaya Choudri, and Prakash Gauda Biradar from Vijayapura in Karnataka on 7 August. All three are natives of Vijayapura district and were reportedly licensed explosives dealers who allegedly sold the consignment in violation of legal requirements.
How many states are involved in the NIA investigation?
The NIA has conducted searches at 19 locations across three states as part of the probe. Arrests have been made in Kerala and Karnataka, indicating a cross-state network behind the illegal procurement and movement of the explosives.
Is the NIA investigation complete?
No. The NIA has confirmed that the investigation into the larger conspiracy and the full chain of illegal procurement and interstate movement of explosives is continuing. Further developments are expected as the agency pursues remaining leads.
