Pune Techie Zubair Hangargekar Back in ATS Custody for Probe into Terror Links
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The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has once again taken software engineer Zubair Hangargekar into custody as part of an ongoing investigation into his alleged connections with banned terrorist organizations, including Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), as well as suspected involvement in radicalisation activities.
Hangargekar, who was initially arrested on October 27, had spent 18 days in ATS custody before being shifted to judicial custody. On Wednesday, a special court handling cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) remanded him back to ATS custody until January 3. Officials explained that since a part of the maximum 30-day police custody period under UAPA had not been fully utilized, the agency was entitled to seek further custodial interrogation.
During the investigation, the ATS discovered a Pakistani contact number saved on Hangargekar’s old mobile phone. A deeper examination of the device revealed five international contacts, including numbers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia (two), Kuwait, and Oman. Despite these numbers being saved, call records showed no incoming or outgoing communication. When questioned, Hangargekar reportedly claimed he could not recall any information regarding the contacts.
The agency has also been examining four Telegram accounts linked to Hangargekar, whose IP addresses were traced to Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Overall, investigators identified 108 Telegram IDs associated with his account. So far, details for eight IDs have been accessed, four of which require further probing due to foreign IP activity. The ATS stated that the electronic devices seized from Hangargekar and his associates contained ideological material associated with Al Qaeda and ISIS, suggesting a broader network of influence.
According to the prosecution, Hangargekar allegedly delivered religious discourses “aggressively” in Kondhwa, Pune. Investigators seized mobile phones from his residence containing deleted PDF files titled ‘Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and All Its Manifestations’ and an Urdu translation of a speech delivered by the late Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden during Eid-ul-Fitr. Additionally, a magazine titled Inspire was recovered, featuring images of AK-47 training at the OSG Gun School and instructions to make IEDs using acetone peroxide.
The ATS has described a pattern of radicalisation among local youths, reportedly introduced to religious teachings at gatherings in Pune and Thane, including sessions at Padgah. Initially focused on religious education, these meetings allegedly evolved into exercises aimed at assessing participants’ mental and physical endurance while fostering extremist ideologies. With Hangargekar back in ATS custody, officials have emphasized that the ongoing investigation aims to trace the full extent of his alleged terror network, both within India and internationally.
