A graphic designer named Qadir Dastagir Pathan, alias Abdul Qadir, a resident of Mitha Nagar in Kondhwa, was detained by the ATS on July 26 for allegedly giving "cover" to the three suspects being held for carrying

A 27-year-old IT engineer was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for reportedly transferring "terror funds" to suspects accused of conducting bomb tests in the forests of Pune, Kolhapur, and Satara districts. This is the fourth arrest in the case, and it comes just two days after the ATS apprehended a 'graphic designer' who allegedly provided 'cover' to three men accused of having terrorist ties.
S. N. Kazi, a resident of Kausar Baug in Pune's Kondhwa region, has been identified as the culprit. On Friday, he was apprehended in his hometown of Panderi in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district.
On Saturday, ATS senior police inspector Arun Waykar brought Kazi before a special court in Pune.
Vjay Fargade, a prosecutor's lawyer, requested Kazi's arrest for an additional inquiry into "terror funding."
On July 26, the ATS apprehended a graphic designer named Qadir Dastagir Pathan, alias Abdul Qadir, a resident of Mitha Nagar in Kondhwa, for reportedly giving 'cover' to three suspects detained for conducting bomb testing.
The ATS told the court that Pathan had been living with his wife in a modest house of "10 by 12 sq. ft" for the last 12 years, but he rented an apartment in Mitha Nagar, Kondhwa, to accommodate the three terror suspects.
According to the ATS, the three terror suspects lived in the rented flat for a year and a half.
Pathan was charged under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) (anyone who voluntarily harbors or conceals any person knowing that such person is a terrorist).
The ATS claimed that an inquiry showed that Pathan allegedly took money from Kazi when requesting custody of Kazi on Saturday. The court established documentation related to the bank transactions between Kazi and Pathan by Inspector Waykar.
The UAPA's Section 17 (collect or provide cash to persons knowing they are likely to perpetrate a terrorist act) was added to the case after the ATS apprehended Kazi. According to defense attorney Yashpal Purohit, the transactions cannot be called "terror funding."
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Following a hearing with both parties, special judge P P Jadhav remanded Kazi to ATS custody until August 5.
Mohammed Yusuf Khan (age 23), Mohammed Yunus Mohammed Yakub Saki (age 24), and Mohammed Shahnawaz Shafiurrehman Alam (age 31) were apprehended early on July 18 by a patrolling team of Pune city police when they were reportedly stealing a car from the Kothrud neighborhood.
Alam reportedly managed to escape while being brought in for a house search, while the other two were detained, according to police.
A laptop, a tab, a weighing scale, drone parts, maps, batteries, an electronic circuit, a soldering gun, chemical powder, Urdu and Arabic literature, and an explosive-grade chemical powder were seized after the accused's home was searched.
At the Kothrud police station, an FIR was filed against the three defendants in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act, Indian Arms Act, and Indian Penal Code. Invoking the UAPA against the trio for their alleged involvement in terrorist activities came after the ATS took over the case investigation.
Khan, Saki, and Alam are members of the "Al Sufa" group of "ISIS," which was taught to carry out terrorist operations and performed bomb testing in the jungles of the Pune, Kolhapur, and Satara districts, according to the ATS investigation.
While the ATS has detained Khan, Saki, Pathan, and Kazi until August 5, an investigation is ongoing to find Alam.