Mumbai, Oct 24: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a 33-year-old ‘Rapido’ bike taxi driver who was linked to the banned terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and had been sharing objectionable posts inciting the assassination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The arrested individual, identified as Mohammad Hasan Abu Sarmad Akhtar—a resident of Mahim, Mumbai—was taken into custody by the Kalachowki unit of the ATS near the Mahim Metro station, acting on specific intelligence.
A ‘double life’ to evade suspicion: According to locals, Akhtar had been living in a rented house in Mahim for the past three and a half years. While he worked as a seller of *attar* (perfume) and a ‘Rapido’ bike taxi rider during the day, he was secretly engaged in radicalizing youth and inciting them toward terrorism.
Links to Pakistani handlers: It is alleged that he was in constant contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives and terrorists. He was an active member of a Pakistan-backed channel on Telegram called ‘IBN-e-Qasim’. He was sowing religious hatred by sharing provocative audio clips—featuring Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar discussing the Babri Masjid—within a Telegram group named ‘Indian Muslim’.
Investigating officers have seized the accused’s Redmi Note 14 Pro mobile phone and collected screenshots of over 39 objectionable posts made by him as evidence.
On his Instagram and Twitter accounts, he incited others to take up arms, writing, “The era of Jihad has arrived” (“Ab Jihad ka zamana aa gaya hai”). Commenting on a news report regarding a security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mumbai, he stated, “What was done to Indira Gandhi should have been done to Prime Minister Modi as well”—effectively calling for the assassination of PM Modi in the same manner as the former Prime Minister.
An FIR has been registered against him under Section 196(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for inciting hatred between religious groups. It has also come to light that, in a recent case involving a shooting incident targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff, one of the accused had conducted reconnaissance in upscale areas while posing as a Rapido rider.
Statement from Rapido: Following these developments, Rapido issued a clarification stating, “The individual had not been active as a ‘Captain’ on our platform since October 14. In the gig economy, individuals often work across multiple platforms. On the day of the incident, he had booked a bike ride merely as a customer.”
Link to Gujarat ATS: Previously, in July, the Gujarat ATS had busted a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist module and arrested five individuals. An investigation is currently underway to determine whether Akhtar—who was apprehended in Mumbai—has any links to that network.