Maharashtra ATS detains 4 from Ahilyanagar over Pakistan gangster links
Synopsis
Four youths from Ahilyanagar are in Maharashtra ATS custody over alleged contacts with Pakistan-based gangsters Shahzad Bhatti and 'Rana Bhai' — the same duo accused of issuing death threats to Shri Ram Sangh's Sagar Beg. With raids at five sites and digital trails under the scanner, the probe signals a widening crackdown on cross-border criminal networks rooted in Maharashtra.
Key Takeaways
The Maharashtra ATS has detained four youths from Ahilyanagar district for questioning over suspected links to Pakistan-based gangsters.
The probe centres on alleged contacts with Shahzad Bhatti and his associate 'Rana Bhai' .
Raids have been carried out at five locations across Maharashtra over the past two days.
Sagar Beg , president of Shri Ram Sangh in Ahmednagar , had reportedly received death threats attributed to the duo.
The four detainees have been in ATS custody since Wednesday ; no formal arrests have been announced.
Digital records and communication trails are under examination to map any wider network.
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has detained four youths from Ahilyanagar district for questioning over their suspected contacts with Pakistan-based gangsters, officials said, as a multi-location crackdown enters its third day across the state. The detentions are part of an ongoing probe into alleged communications between local individuals and gangsters identified as Shahzad Bhatti and his associate, known as 'Rana Bhai'.
Key Developments
According to officials, ATS teams have conducted raids at five locations across Maharashtra over the past two days, and the operation is still under way. The four detained individuals have been in ATS custody since Wednesday, and questioning is continuing to determine the extent of their alleged involvement.
Investigators are reportedly examining the nature of the communications between the suspects and the two gangsters, and whether these were linked to any criminal conspiracy or organised network operating across the state.
The Threat Trigger
Sources said the probe gained urgency after Sagar Beg, president of the Shri Ram Sangh in Ahmednagar district, allegedly received death threats attributed to Rana and Bhatti. The threats prompted security agencies to intensify efforts to trace possible local handlers and sympathisers connected to the gangsters.
During the course of the investigation, ATS officials reportedly uncovered evidence suggesting that the four youths from Ahilyanagar had been in touch with the two Pakistan-based operatives. Coordinated raids were launched on the basis of these findings.
What Investigators Are Examining
The ATS is scrutinising digital records, communication trails, and other technical evidence gathered during the raids. Investigators are working to establish whether the detained suspects acted independently or formed part of a wider network with cells across Maharashtra.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the detained individuals, and no formal arrests have been announced so far. Officials indicated that further action will depend on what emerges from the ongoing interrogation and technical analysis.
Wider Crackdown Continues
The ATS has stated that raids and verification exercises at multiple locations are continuing as part of the broader probe. Officials added that all aspects of the case — including the alleged death threats issued to Sagar Beg and the suspected links between local youths and Pakistan-based gangsters — are being thoroughly investigated.
This is the latest in a series of ATS actions in Maharashtra targeting alleged cross-border criminal contacts, following heightened scrutiny of gangster networks reportedly operating from Pakistani soil. More details are expected to emerge as the inquiry progresses.
Point of View
Where extortion and threats are outsourced to local recruits via encrypted apps. The real test for the ATS is whether digital forensics can establish a chain beyond contact metadata into actionable conspiracy. Without that, detentions risk dissolving into discharges, as has happened in several earlier Maharashtra cases linked to overseas handlers.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Maharashtra ATS detained four youths from Ahilyanagar?
The ATS has detained four youths from Ahilyanagar district for questioning over their suspected contacts with Pakistan-based gangsters Shahzad Bhatti and 'Rana Bhai'. The detentions are part of a wider crackdown that has seen raids at five locations across the state over the past two days.
Who are Shahzad Bhatti and 'Rana Bhai'?
Shahzad Bhatti and his associate known as 'Rana Bhai' are Pakistan-based gangsters being probed by Indian agencies. They are alleged to have issued death threats to Sagar Beg, president of the Shri Ram Sangh in Ahmednagar district.
Have the four detainees been formally arrested?
No formal arrests have been announced. The four individuals have been in ATS custody for questioning since Wednesday, and authorities have not yet disclosed their identities. Further action will depend on the outcome of the ongoing interrogation.
What evidence is the ATS examining in the case?
Investigators are examining digital records, communication trails, and other technical evidence gathered during the raids. The aim is to determine whether the detained suspects acted independently or as part of a larger network operating across Maharashtra.
Why did the threats to Sagar Beg trigger this probe?
Sagar Beg, who heads the Shri Ram Sangh in Ahmednagar, had reportedly received death threats attributed to Rana and Bhatti. Those threats led security agencies to intensify efforts to trace local contacts and sympathisers linked to the Pakistan-based gangsters.
