Based on Special Cell's information, Tihar Jail authorities on Thursday seized a cellphone from a jail where certain terror convicts are lodged. It's suspected that the phone was used for operating Telegram channels used recently for claiming responsibility for the explosive-laden SUV found abandoned near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai.
Further investigation and forensic analysis will be done after the mobile handset and details of the seizure are received from Tihar Jail authorities, said Delhi Police Special Cell.
The jail was raided from 6 pm to 9 pm on Thursday as the link to the case of explosives planted outside Mukesh Ambani's residence reached Delhi's Tihar Jail. The mobile phone was seized from the barracks of dangerous terrorist Tehseen Akhtar.
Tihar Jail officials on Thursday evening conducted a massive search operation inside sub-jail number 8 and recovered a mobile handset belonging to Indian Mujahideen terrorist Tehseen. The Telegram account was activated from the same mobile.
Tehseen Akhtar was involved in the Hyderabad blasts, Bodh Gaya blasts and blast at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting at Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
The user of the primary number was using an app which generates virtual numbers which were then used to create the Telegram account. Further, the user was using a TOR browser which masks a user’s IP address while using the internet. Delhi Police Special Cell will now remand Tehseen Akhtar for questioning.
Another mobile number is on the radar of the police.This number was activated in September. Which was later discontinued.The two mobile numbers were purchased on false documents, especially for criminals lodged in Tihar Jail.
According to police sources, the telegram channel was set up on February 26 and a message claiming responsibility for placing a Scorpio outside Ambani's residence was posted on Ambani's telegram messaging app late on February 27.The message also asked for money to be sent in cryptocurrency and mentioned a link to deposit it.
During the interrogation, the link was found to be "not available", so investigators suspected that someone was acting to harass them. Later, on February 28, another message from Jaish-ul-Hind appeared on social media platforms, claiming that they had no role in the Scorpio case, which was found outside the house. The case was initially investigated by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. The Home Minister later handed over the investigation to the ATS. After which the case has been shifted from the ATS to the NIA, the central investigative body.