NIA Charges Three in ISIS-Linked Bioterrorism Plot Targeting Public Spaces

The National Investigation Agency has filed formal charges against three individuals accused of conspiring to carry out a bioterrorism attack linked to ISIS, with plans to poison public spaces on a mass scale.

The chargesheet names Dr Syed Ahmed Mohiuddin from Hyderabad alongside Azad and Mohammad Suhel, both from Uttar Pradesh. The case has been filed before the NIA special court in Ahmedabad.

The accused have been charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Arms Act. According to investigators, the three men acted on directions from ISIS operatives based abroad, who allegedly tasked them with radicalizing young people and advancing extremist ideology.

The investigation alleges the conspirators prepared for terror operations through the acquisition of prohibited weapons and the development of biological agents for harmful purposes.

Ricin at Center of Plot

The case centers on allegations that the accused planned to deploy ricin, a highly toxic substance derived from castor seeds, as part of their scheme. Authorities claim Mohiuddin converted his Hyderabad home into a makeshift laboratory where he extracted ricin from castor seeds.

The investigation gained momentum after Gujarat's Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Mohiuddin in November 2025 at a toll plaza. Officers reported seizing illegal weapons, materials related to the conspiracy, and four liters of castor oil from his vehicle.

Following Mohiuddin's detention, investigators apprehended the two other accused. According to the NIA, Azad and Suhel had retrieved money and prohibited weapons from a dead-drop location in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, which they subsequently transported to Gujarat.

When the NIA assumed control of the investigation in January 2026, the agency expanded its focus to include allegations that Mohiuddin had established his residence as a clandestine operational base. The other accused, the NIA contends, maintained ongoing communications with their foreign handlers and managed financial arrangements.

Investigators have also alleged the trio conducted surveillance activities and accumulated illegal weapons and ammunition in preparation for the planned attack.

The NIA stated that its investigation remains active as authorities work to identify the foreign-based handlers and any additional individuals connected to the conspiracy.