Mumbai: Saquib Abdul Hamid Nachan(63), a former office-bearer of the banned outfit Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and a key accused in the Delhi-Padgha ISIS Terror Module case, is in an "extremely critical" condition after suffering a brain stroke, officials confirmed.
Nachan, who was under judicial custody in Tihar Jail, was admitted to Delhi's Deendayal Upadhyay Hospital on Monday. As of Wednesday morning, he was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital for advanced treatment due to the severity of his condition. Sources from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said Nachan remains under close observation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
NIA Sources Confirm Saquib Nachan’s Key Role in Delhi-Padgha ISIS Terror Module Case
Nachan was arrested in 2023 by the NIA for his alleged role as ‘Amir-e-Hind’ (India chief) of the ISIS network in India. He is accused of radicalizing youth, recruiting operatives, and overseeing the group’s ideological and logistical expansion across the country, with a particular focus on Maharashtra.
The case is part of a broader NIA-led crackdown on the Delhi-Padgha ISIS Terror Module case which has resulted in multiple arrests over the past year. The agency has described the group as a highly organized, digitally adept terror outfit engaged in funding through illegal channels, encrypted communication, and plotting attacks on Indian soil.
Officials from Tihar Jail, where Nachan was lodged under judicial custody, have informed his family about the medical emergency. Sources from Padgha village confirmed that his son and son-in-law have reached Delhi and are present at the hospital.
Recently, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) conducted an operation in Borivali village, Padgha area of Thane district, based on intelligence inputs regarding a suspected sleeper cell. Officials believe this cell was linked to Nachan’s network and may have been established as part of a contingency plan in the event of his arrest or death. During the operation, the ATS reportedly recovered several items, including multiple SIM cards, mobile handsets, sharp-edged weapons such as swords and knives, property-related documents, and printed material allegedly propagating terrorism and radical ideologies.
Sources said that prior to his arrest in 2023, Nachan had appointed a number of lieutenants to ensure operational continuity of the group. The ATS has since searched Nachan’s residence and those of his close associates. Several individuals, including suspected ISIS sympathisers and persons believed to be linked to the network, have been summoned for questioning.
According to sources, the ATS is in the process of seeking Nachan’s custody by moving a production warrant before the Special NIA Court at Patiala House in Delhi in connection with the ongoing arms and conspiracy case.
Nachan has two sons, and one of them, Shamil, is also in jail in the ISIS Maharashtra terror module case, while his elder son, Aquib, was questioned by the ATS at his house earlier this month but was released.
Nachan Accused of Conducting ISIS Oath Ceremony and Sharing Video via Encrypted Channels
According to the NIA's chargesheet, Mohammad Saquib Nachan, also known as Raveesh, Saquib, or Khalid, who is one of the main accused and self-styled Amir-e-Hind for ISIS in India. During the investigation, the agency found that Saquib Nachan, was linked with ISIS handlers. Saquib conducted the oath program of ISIS, recording the entire process with a mobile camera, and sent the video through VPN ((virtual private network) with several email IDs, Telegram, Snapchat, and several third-party apps to ISIS handlers.
Saquib Nachan, a former SIMI member and a close associate of Indian Mujahideen, has a history involving criminal activities. He was convicted for his involvement in three bomb blasts that occurred in 2002 and 2003 at Mumbai Central, Vile Parle, and Mulund stations, resulting in the death of around a dozen people. Nachan was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment under the Prevention of Terrorist Act (POTA) for possessing weapons. After serving time behind bars as an undertrial, Nachan was convicted in March 2016. His trial marked a significant case, as it was one of the first instances where educated professionals were accused of carrying out terror attacks.
In 2017, Nachan was released from prison and went to his hometown of Padgha with his relatives. Over the years, Saquib Nachan remained under the radar of law enforcement agencies due to alleged involvement in various terrorist activities connected to Padgha.and In 2023 arrested by NIA along with 15 terror suspects in Delhi-Padgha ISIS Terror Module case.
