Wire flash
ConflictED freezes ₹750,000 in Bengaluru raids over ISIS recruitment, terror funding probe
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) conducted searches at eight locations in Bengaluru under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with an alleged ISIS recruitment and terror-funding module. The ED froze ₹7.5 lakh as proceeds of crime and seized incriminating electronic records and digital devices. The case stems from an FIR filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against five individuals—Irfan Nasir, Ahamed Abdul Cader, Mohammed Tauqir Mahmood, Zuhab Hameed Shakeel Manna, and absconding accused Mohammed Shihab—affiliated with the banned terrorist organization ISIS. According to the NIA chargesheet, the accused allegedly radicalized and recruited impressionable Muslim youth from Bengaluru through a personality development program called Iqra Camp and a weekly Quran Circle, then arranged funds and logistics to facilitate their travel to Syria via Turkey to join ISIS. Funds were raised through individuals, trustees of the Iqra Welfare Trust and GFM Trust, and personal savings. The ED investigation found that these funds were used to finance recruitment activities. Further investigation under PMLA is ongoing.
Source report
Updated - July 23, 2026 07:34 pm IST Bengaluru The Hindu Bureau
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has conducted searches at eight locations in Bengaluru in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged ISIS recruitment and terror-funding module. The agency has frozen what it claims to be proceeds of crime worth ₹7.5 lakh.
The ED carried out the searches on Tuesday under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The raids targeted the premises of the Iqra Welfare Trust, the Guidance for Mankind (GFM) Trust, and individuals linked to these organisations based in Bengaluru. During the operation, officials seized incriminating electronic records and digital devices, and froze ₹7.50 lakh.
The ED case is based on an FIR filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) regarding alleged ISIS recruitment activities at the two bodies. The NIA had arrested:
- Irfan Nasir
- Ahamed Abdul Cader
- Mohammed Tauqir Mahmood
- Zuhab Hameed Shakeel Manna
Mohammed Shihab is reported to be absconding. The NIA subsequently filed a chargesheet against all five accused, alleging they were affiliated with the banned terrorist organisation ISIS/ISIL/Daesh.
According to the NIA chargesheet, the accused allegedly conspired to radicalise and recruit impressionable Muslim youth from Bengaluru into ISIS. Officials said they identified and indoctrinated recruits through:
- A personality development programme known as Iqra Camp
- A weekly Quran Circle
The accused then arranged funds and logistics to facilitate the recruits' travel to Syria via Turkey to join ISIS.
The chargesheet further alleged that the accused raised funds through individuals, trustees of the Iqra Welfare Trust and GFM Trust, and personal savings to finance recruitment activities. It also claimed they exploited sentiments surrounding the anti-CAA/NRC protests to incite communal hatred and propagated ISIS ideology through encrypted social media platforms.
The ED said its investigation has found that the funds raised by the accused and through the trusts were allegedly used to finance and facilitate the recruitment of vulnerable individuals into ISIS.
Further investigation under the PMLA is in progress.
Published - July 23, 2026 07:33 pm IST
Source
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Regional
Part of this Story
ED freezes ₹7.5 lakh, conducts searches in Bengaluru in ISIS recruitment and terror-funding probe