Pune: ATS Gets Extended Custody of Techie Over al-Qaida Literature Case
Pune, 5th November 2025: The special court of Judge S.R. Salunkhe on Tuesday extended the custody of software engineer Zubair Ilyas Hangargekar till November 14, following a request from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Hangargekar, a Kondhwa resident, was arrested on October 27 for allegedly possessing digital material linked to the banned terrorist outfit al-Qaida.
The ATS has charged him under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Hangargekar was produced before the court after the expiry of his initial remand period.
During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Vijay Fargade informed the court that investigators required additional time to examine Hangargekar’s possible connections with individuals already under surveillance by central intelligence agencies.
Fargade stated that a detailed forensic analysis of digital files seized from the accused was still underway. “The PDF files recovered from his mobile phone and laptop appear to contain information on bomb-making techniques. The total data extracted from his devices is around one terabyte, and a complete forensic review is yet to be completed,” he told the court.
He further added that investigators had also found a QR code allegedly used by Hangargekar to collect money from people visiting a religious place in Kondhwa. “The ATS has obtained his bank account statement, which is being examined by a forensic auditor. The analysis report is awaited,” Fargade said.
The ATS is expected to seek further remand if the forensic findings reveal additional evidence or links to other suspects.
