New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted three accused linked to the banned ISIS terrorist organisation in connection with an alleged jihadi bioterrorism conspiracy aimed at carrying out mass poisoning in public places, an official statement said.

The main accused, Hyderabad-based Dr Syed Ahmed Mohiuddin, along with co-accused Azad and Mohammad Suhel, both from Uttar Pradesh, have been chargesheeted before the NIA Special Court in Ahmedabad under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Arms Act.

According to the NIA, the accused were allegedly working under the guidance of foreign-based ISIS-linked handlers and operated in a coordinated manner to recruit vulnerable youth radicalised online to support jihad and spread terror using prohibited weapons and bioterrorism methods.

“The accused had planned to use ricin, a potent biological toxin naturally occurring in castor seeds and listed in Schedule I of the Chemical Weapons Convention, to carry out the nefarious agenda of ISIS,” the agency said.

The case was initially registered by the Gujarat ATS following the arrest of Dr Mohiuddin, an MBBS graduate from China, who was allegedly caught at a toll plaza in November 2025 carrying illegal weapons, a bottle containing four litres of castor oil, and other incriminating materials in his car.

The ATS investigation led to the arrest of the other two accused on the same day. According to investigators, Azad and Suhel had allegedly collected parcels containing money and prohibited weapons from a dead-drop site in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, and later delivered them at a location in Chhatral, Gujarat, for Mohiuddin to collect.

After taking over the probe in January 2026, the NIA found that Mohiuddin was allegedly promised the position of ISIS ‘Amir’ of South Asia by his handler. The agency claimed he had converted his Hyderabad residence into a clandestine laboratory to prepare ricin from castor seeds.

The NIA further alleged that the other two accused knowingly participated in the conspiracy by staying in contact with handlers, receiving and utilising terror funds, conducting reconnaissance, taking oath of allegiance, and collecting illegal arms and ammunition.

According to the agency, Suhel acted as a key link between the handlers and the other accused for recruitment, coordination, and handling of funds and weapons consignments. He allegedly received and distributed funds, conducted reconnaissance, handled and transported illegal weapons, recorded Bay’ah (oath of allegiance), and prepared ISIS flags. DeshGujarat