NIA Charges Four in Bengaluru Cafe Blast Case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed charges against four individuals in connection with the Rameshwaram cafe blast in Bengaluru. The accused, identified as Mussavir Hussain Shazib, Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taaha, Maaz Muneer Ahmed, and Muzammil Shareef, have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P)A), Explosive Substances Act, and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act (PDPP).

The explosion occurred on March 1 at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Brookfield, ITPL Bengaluru, injuring nine people and causing extensive damage to the property. The NIA began its investigation on March 3 and conducted several technical and field investigations in coordination with state police forces and other agencies.

Investigations revealed that Shazib planted the bomb, and he, along with Taaha, had been absconding since 2020 after the Al-Hind module was busted. They were arrested from their hideout in West Bengal 42 days after the explosion. Both men, from Shivamogga District in Karnataka, were ISIS radicals and had conspired to join ISIS in Syria. They were involved in radicalizing other youth, including Maaz Muneer Ahmed and Muzammil Shareef.

Taaha and Shazib used fraudulently obtained Indian SIM cards, bank accounts, and identity documents from the Dark Web. Taaha was introduced to Mohammed Shaheed Faisal, an absconder in the LeT Bengaluru conspiracy case, by Shoaib Ahmed Mirza, an ex-convict. Faisal, their handler, funded them through cryptocurrencies, which Taaha converted to Fiat using Telegram-based P2P platforms. The funds were used for various violent acts in Bengaluru, including a failed IED attack at the State BJP Office on January 22, 2024, and the Rameshwaram cafe blast.

Further investigations are ongoing.