The National Investigation Agency (NIA) significantly expanded its investigation on Monday into a sophisticated terror financing and radicalisation network described as "white-collar." The probe is linked to the November 10 car blast near Delhi's iconic Red Fort. In a coordinated operation, the federal agency conducted simultaneous searches across multiple locations in Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh.
Raids Target Key Locations and Suspects
One of the key locations searched was the Lalbagh residence in Lucknow of former medical college faculty member Dr. Shaheen Shahid, who is already under arrest and in NIA custody. This marks the first time the NIA has raided her Lucknow home. Her father and one brother currently live there, while another brother, also a doctor, has been detained for questioning.
In Jammu & Kashmir, NIA teams carried out searches at eight locations across Pulwama, Shopian, and Kulgam districts. In Shopian, officers raided the home of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad Vagay, the alleged mastermind behind radicalisation and recruitment for the network. Vagay is currently in NIA custody related to the Red Fort blast, which claimed 15 lives. Searches in Pulwama were conducted in areas including Koil, Chandgam, Malangpora, and Sambura, linked to suspects in the Delhi explosion.
Simultaneously, in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur, the NIA searched the residence of Dr. Aadil Ahmad Rather, arrested earlier this month. This is part of the agency's effort to meticulously map the financial and operational structure of the terror module.
The Case Against Dr. Shaheen Shahid
The case against Dr. Shaheen Shahid reveals a startling trajectory from an accomplished academic to a terror accused. The 46-year-old pharmacology specialist, known as 'Madam Surgeon,' was a topper in her Class 10 and 12 board exams. She completed her MBBS and MD from a government medical college in Prayagraj and later joined GSVM Medical College in Kanpur as an assistant professor in 2006 after securing a UPPSC rank.
Her career reportedly derailed after 2013 when she stopped reporting for duty, leading to her termination in 2021. Investigators allege that during these years, she drifted towards radical elements while associated with Al-Falah University. She allegedly grew close to Dr. Muzammil Shakeel, a suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative, whom she married in 2023.
Her arrest followed the recovery of a Russian rifle and ammunition from a car registered in her name, allegedly used by Muzammil. The NIA claims she funnelled Rs 27–28 lakh into the module, including Rs 6.5 lakh for weapons and Rs 3 lakh for a vehicle, though she contends the money was given as zakat (charity).
Agencies assert she was the only woman in the Faridabad JeM module and was in contact with Afira Biwi, the wife of Pulwama attack mastermind Umar Farooq. They allegedly discussed a plan to target six Indian cities on December 6 as "revenge for Babri Masjid." Dr. Shahid is accused of heading the India wing of Jamaat-ul-Mominaat, the women's wing of Jaish-e-Muhammad.
A New Breed of "White-Collar" Terror
Officials describe this network as a dangerous new model of "white-collar" terror. It involves educated professionals who raise funds through complex means like financial fraud, money laundering, and transactions that appear legitimate, making detection exceptionally challenging for investigative agencies.
With raids now spanning from Kashmir to Uttar Pradesh, the NIA's focus is on identifying the module's handlers, tracing the intricate funnel of funds, and understanding how radicalisation and operational planning were executed by individuals with professional backgrounds.
The recent searches follow a Delhi court's decision on Saturday to extend the NIA custody of four accused—Dr. Shaheen Shahid, Dr. Muzammil Shakeel, Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay, and Dr. Adeel Ahmed Rather—by another 10 days. The agency sought more time for investigation in the Delhi blast case.
The probe has revealed that even before the November blast, several arrests had been made across multiple states, pointing to an interstate terror module. The explosion near Lal Qila Metro station, involving a Hyundai i20 driven by Dr. Umar Muhammad, helped investigators connect the dots, leading to a series of revelations as the probe deepened. The NIA has arrested seven individuals in connection with this blast so far.
