NIA charges inter-state arms smuggler in Patna; ISIS bioterror plot also chargesheeted
Synopsis
The NIA has filed chargesheets in two separate high-stakes cases on the same week — one targeting a nine-accused inter-state ammunition smuggling syndicate spanning Bihar, UP, and Haryana, and another exposing an ISIS-linked bioterror plot involving ricin, a Schedule I chemical weapon toxin. The simultaneous filings reveal the breadth of threats the agency is now tracking.
Key Takeaways
Parvez Alam is the ninth accused chargesheeted in NIA case RC-01/25/NIA/PAT , an inter-state arms smuggling case spanning Bihar, UP, and Haryana .
A total of 11 persons have been arrested in the ammunition trafficking case; 8 remain in judicial custody.
The NIA took over the Bihar arms case in August 2025 and mapped the syndicate across three operational levels .
In a separate case, Syed Ahmed Mohiuddin and two co-accused have been chargesheeted in Ahmedabad for an ISIS-linked ricin bioterror conspiracy .
Mohiuddin, an MBBS graduate from China, was arrested in November 2025 by ATS Gujarat with illegal weapons and 4 litres of castor oil .
Ricin is listed under Schedule I of the Chemical Weapons Convention , making the alleged plot a case of planned mass-casualty bioterrorism.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on 7 May 2025 filed a chargesheet in a Special NIA Court in Patna against Parvez Alam, an arms and ammunition smuggler linked to an inter-state illegal ammunition trafficking syndicate with operations spanning Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. Parvez is the ninth accused to be charged in case RC-01/25/NIA/PAT, according to an official NIA statement.
The Arms Smuggling Syndicate
Charges against Parvez Alam have been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act. A total of 11 persons have been arrested in this case so far, with eight of them — charged in February 2025 — continuing to remain in judicial custody and facing trial.
According to the NIA, Parvez has had several arms cases registered against him since 2013. He was brought into the current proceedings on a production warrant, as the case involves a large syndicate engaged in the smuggling of prohibited bore ammunition.
How the Investigation Unfolded
The case was originally registered by local police in Bihar in July 2024 following the arrest of four accused and the seizure of large quantities of illicit ammunition. The NIA took over the investigation in August 2025 and found that the syndicate operated across three distinct levels — major suppliers, linchpin middlemen, and networked retailers.
Subsequent searches and investigations conducted by the agency across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar led to the arrest of key accused operating at each level of the network, the NIA said.
Separate Case: ISIS-Linked Bioterror Conspiracy in Ahmedabad
In a separate but equally significant development, the NIA on 5 May 2025 filed charges in a Special NIA Court in Ahmedabad against three accused persons linked to the proscribed Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organisation. The case involves an alleged Jihadi bioterrorism conspiracy aimed at carrying out mass poisoning of civilians in public spaces.
The main accused, Hyderabad-based Syed Ahmed Mohiuddin — an MBBS graduate from China — along with co-accused Azad and Mohammad Suhel, both from Uttar Pradesh, have been chargesheeted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the BNS, and the Arms Act.
According to the NIA, the accused — reportedly working under the guidance of IS-linked foreign-based handlers — operated in a coordinated manner to recruit and radicalise vulnerable youth to support jihad and spread terror through illegal weapons and bioterrorism.
The Ricin Plot
The accused had allegedly planned to deploy ricin — a potent biological toxin derived naturally from the seeds of castor oil and listed under Schedule I of the Chemical Weapons Convention — to execute the Islamic State's agenda. Mohiuddin was originally arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Gujarat, after being apprehended at a toll plaza in November 2025. He was found carrying illegal weapons, a bottle containing 4 litres of castor oil, and other incriminating articles in his vehicle.
What Comes Next
Both cases are now before their respective Special NIA Courts — Patna for the ammunition trafficking matter and Ahmedabad for the ISIS bioterror conspiracy. As trials proceed, the NIA's investigations into the broader networks — including the foreign handlers in the ISIS case — are expected to continue. The dual chargesheet filings underscore the agency's widening focus on both conventional arms trafficking and emerging bioterrorism threats.
Point of View
And IS-directed bioterrorism leveraging accessible biological agents on the other. The ricin angle is particularly alarming: castor oil is a common agricultural commodity, making it a low-barrier weapon of mass disruption. What the mainstream coverage underplays is the foreign-handler dimension of the ISIS case — the real threat may be less about the three accused and more about the offshore IS networks directing them. On the arms trafficking front, Parvez Alam's decade-long history of registered arms cases raises legitimate questions about how such individuals evade accountability for so long before federal agencies step in.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Parvez Alam and why has the NIA chargesheeted him?
Parvez Alam is an arms and ammunition smuggler who is the ninth accused chargesheeted by the NIA in case RC-01/25/NIA/PAT, an inter-state illegal ammunition trafficking case. He has had multiple arms cases registered against him since 2013 and was brought into the current case on a production warrant.
What is the inter-state arms smuggling case about?
The case involves a large syndicate engaged in smuggling prohibited bore ammunition across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. Originally registered by Bihar police in July 2024, the NIA took over in August 2025 and found the network operated at three levels — major suppliers, middlemen, and retailers.
What is the ISIS bioterrorism case filed in Ahmedabad?
The NIA chargesheeted three accused — Syed Ahmed Mohiuddin, Azad, and Mohammad Suhel — for an alleged conspiracy to carry out mass poisoning in public spaces using ricin, a potent biological toxin, under the direction of IS-linked foreign handlers. The case was filed on 5 May 2025 before a Special NIA Court in Ahmedabad.
What is ricin and why is it dangerous?
Ricin is a potent biological toxin that occurs naturally in the seeds of the castor oil plant. It is listed under Schedule I of the Chemical Weapons Convention, meaning it is internationally recognised as a potential weapon of mass destruction with no approved antidote.
How was the ISIS bioterror accused Syed Ahmed Mohiuddin caught?
Mohiuddin was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Gujarat in November 2025 after being stopped at a toll plaza. He was found carrying illegal weapons, a bottle containing 4 litres of castor oil, and other incriminating materials in his vehicle.
