The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday detained three individuals, among them a prison psychiatrist and an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) from the City Armed Reserve, after sweeping raids across two Karnataka districts in connection with the 2023 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) prison radicalisation case.
The arrested include Dr. Nagaraj, psychiatrist at Bengaluru’s Central Prison, ASI Chan Pasha, and Anees Fathima, mother of an absconding suspect. During operations at five premises in Bengaluru and Kolar, officials confiscated electronic gadgets, cash, jewellery, and incriminating papers.
This case revolves around the seizure of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and two walkie-talkies from repeat offenders plotting terror strikes in Bengaluru to promote LeT’s agenda. Investigators allege Dr. Nagaraj illicitly supplied mobile phones to inmates, including Thadiyantavide Nazeer, a convict serving life for terrorism. The psychiatrist reportedly acted with an associate named Pavithra.
Apart from Nagaraj’s and Pavithra’s residences, NIA teams searched Anees Fathima’s home. She allegedly relayed Nazeer’s directions to her son, Junaid Ahmed, to collect funds and channel them back to Nazeer inside prison.
According to the NIA, ASI Chan Pasha shared details about Nazeer’s movement between prison and court in return for bribes in 2022.
Previously, a chargesheet was filed against nine accused under the IPC, UA(P) Act, Arms Act, and Explosives Act. Authorities are still pursuing the main conspirator believed to have fled overseas.
The probe started after Bengaluru police raided a Kodigehalli residence in July 2023, recovering pistols, bullets, and radical materials, later handing the case over to the NIA.