The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged four individuals in connection with the Rameshwaram Café blast case in Bengaluru, uncovering a plot to target the State BJP Office on the day of the Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya. The chargesheet, filed on Monday, identifies Mussavir Hussain Shazib, Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taaha, Maaz Muneer Ahmed, and Muzammil Shareef as the accused.


They face charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P) Act), the Explosive Substances Act, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act (PDLP Act). All four are currently in judicial custody.


The accused received funds that were used to perpetrate various acts of violence in Bengaluru, the NIA stated. These involved a failed IED attack at the State BJP Office, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, on the day of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ayodhya on January 22, after which the two key accused had planned the Rameshwaram Cafe blast, NIA's statement informed.


The improvised explosive device (IED) explosion occurred on 1 March 2024 at the Rameshwaram Café, located in Brookfield, ITPL Bengaluru. The blast resulted in nine injuries and significant damage to the hotel property.


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NIA Probe Into Rameshwaram Café Blast Reveals Funding Via Cryptocurrencies


The NIA began its investigation on 3 March 2024, collaborating with various state police forces and other agencies. The probe revealed that Shazib had planted the bomb, while Taaha had been absconding since 2020 following the dismantling of the Al-Hind module. They were apprehended in West Bengal 42 days after the Rameshwaram café explosion.


Shazib and Taaha, originally from Shivamogga District in Karnataka, were radicalised ISIS supporters. They had previously attempted to migrate to ISIS-controlled areas in Syria and were involved in radicalising other young Muslims. Maaz Muneer Ahmed and Muzammil Shareef were among those influenced by their ideology, as per the NIA.


Further investigation uncovered that Taaha and Shazib had used fraudulently obtained Indian SIM cards, bank accounts, and various identity documents sourced from the Dark Web. Taaha was introduced to Mohammed Shaheed Faisal, an absconder from the LeT Bengaluru conspiracy case, by an ex-convict, Shoaib Ahmed Mirza. Faisal, in turn, was introduced to Mehaboob Pasha, an accused in the Al-Hind ISIS module case, Khaja Mohideen, the Amir of ISIS South India, and later to Maaz Muneer Ahmed, the central agency revealed.


Taaha and Shazib received funding through cryptocurrencies, which Taaha converted into fiat currency via Telegram-based peer-to-peer platforms. These funds were used to carry out violent acts in Bengaluru, including a failed IED attack at the State BJP Office, Malleshwaram, on 22 January 2024, the day of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ayodhya, the NIA statement informed. The two key accused later planned the Rameshwaram café blast.


The NIA's investigation into the case is ongoing.