Maharashtra ATS questions 102 people linked to Pak gangster Shahzad Bhatti
Synopsis
In one of Maharashtra's largest single-day counter-terror sweeps, 58 ATS teams simultaneously questioned 102 people across 11 cities for alleged links to Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti. With Delhi Police and the NIA already acting on the same network, the coordinated pressure signals a nationwide push to dismantle what authorities describe as a sleeper-cell recruitment pipeline targeting vulnerable youth.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra ATS questioned 102 individuals on 10 July over alleged social media contact with Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti .
58 teams from 14 ATS units launched simultaneous raids at 7 am across 11 locations in Maharashtra.
Bhatti's network allegedly recruits unemployed youth with money, targeting them for intelligence gathering, drug smuggling, and illegal weapons supply.
Delhi Police had separately arrested 6 suspects linked to Bhatti and recovered petrol bomb material.
The NIA last month searched 18 locations in Punjab and Haryana in connection with the same network.
ATS has urged parents to monitor children's social media activity and report suspicious behaviour.
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Friday, 10 July questioned 102 individuals across multiple cities for their alleged social media contact with Pakistan-based gangster-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti, who is reportedly plotting to deploy them as foot soldiers for anti-national activities. The coordinated sweep, launched simultaneously at 7 am, deployed 58 teams from 14 ATS units across Maharashtra.
Scope of the Operation
According to a police statement, ATS teams descended on premises across Mumbai, Thane, Kurla, Bandra, Jogeshwari, Navi Mumbai, Mira Road, Bhayandar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Satara, and Sangli. The individuals were questioned on suspicion of being radicalised by Bhatti and his associates — identified as Abid Jat alias Abid Chan, Aman Gujar, Thai Memon, Rana Hunen, and Ashraf Babhir Alam.
How the Network Allegedly Operates
Authorities allege that Bhatti and his associates exploit religious and socially sensitive issues to radicalise youth and incite them against the country. The network reportedly targets unemployed and economically disadvantaged young people, luring them with financial inducements. Officials said the primary objectives of the network include creating local agents, gathering intelligence, smuggling drugs, and supplying illegal weapons.
Wider National Crackdown
Friday's Maharashtra ATS action follows a parallel operation by Delhi Police's anti-terror Special Cell, which arrested six suspects linked to Bhatti and recovered petrol bomb material from the accused. Last month, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at 18 locations across Punjab and Haryana as part of its own investigation into the same terror-gangster network allegedly operated by Bhatti. This marks at least the third major multi-agency action against the network in recent weeks.
ATS Advisory to the Public
The Maharashtra ATS on Friday warned young people to be wary of lucrative offers on social media, cautioning that such approaches may be part of a larger conspiracy. The squad also appealed to citizens and parents to closely monitor their children's internet habits and report any suspicious behavioural changes to authorities. Police further urged the public not to share or forward rumours on social media that could threaten law and order or national integrity.
What Comes Next
The Maharashtra Police and ATS made clear that no anti-national element compromising the state's peace and security would be spared. With the NIA, Delhi Police, and state ATS units now all actively pursuing the Bhatti network, further arrests and searches across other states remain a possibility as investigations deepen.
Point of View
Delhi Police, and the NIA against the Bhatti network is notable not just for its scale but for what it reveals about the recruitment playbook: social media, religious grievance, and economic desperation used as a pipeline into sleeper cells. What is less clear — and what authorities have not yet detailed — is how many of the 102 questioned have any actionable link to Bhatti beyond casual social media contact. The risk of over-broad sweeps is that they generate optics of action without proportionate legal outcomes, and can themselves become grievance fodder. The real measure of this operation will be how many of these cases survive judicial scrutiny.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Maharashtra ATS operation on 10 July involve?
The Maharashtra ATS questioned 102 individuals across multiple cities in a single coordinated operation launched at 7 am on 10 July. The individuals were suspected of being in social media contact with Pakistan-based gangster-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti, who allegedly sought to use them as foot soldiers for anti-national activities.
Who is Shahzad Bhatti and what is his alleged network?
Shahzad Bhatti is a Pakistan-based gangster-terrorist who, according to Indian authorities, runs a network that exploits religious and socially sensitive issues to radicalise youth in India. His associates — including Abid Jat alias Abid Chan, Aman Gujar, Thai Memon, Rana Hunen, and Ashraf Babhir Alam — allegedly recruit unemployed youth with financial offers to build local sleeper cells for intelligence gathering, drug smuggling, and weapons supply.
Which other agencies have acted against the Bhatti network?
Delhi Police's anti-terror Special Cell arrested six suspects linked to Bhatti and recovered petrol bomb material. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) also searched 18 locations across Punjab and Haryana last month in connection with the same network, making Friday's Maharashtra operation the latest in a series of multi-agency actions.
What is the ATS advisory to the public?
The Maharashtra ATS has warned young people to be cautious of lucrative social media offers, which may be part of a larger conspiracy. It has also urged parents to monitor their children's internet and social media activity and to report any suspicious behavioural changes to authorities.
What could happen next in this investigation?
With the NIA, Delhi Police, and Maharashtra ATS all actively pursuing the Bhatti network, further arrests and searches in other states are possible. Maharashtra Police have stated that no anti-national element will be spared, signalling that the operation is ongoing rather than concluded.
