Pune: Techie Hangargekar in ATS Custody Till January 3
Pune/Mumbai, 26th December 2025: Suspicious digital footprints and alleged radicalisation have brought software engineer Zubair Hangargekar back into the custody of Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), highlighting the growing complexity of online terror networks. The 37-year-old, arrested in October for suspected links to Al Qaeda and its Indian affiliate AQIS, was remanded to ATS custody until January 3 by a special UAPA court for further investigation.
According to the ATS, a deep dive into Hangargekar’s Telegram account revealed 108 connected IDs, four of which were traced to IP addresses in Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Investigators claim this discovery underscores potential international dimensions to the radicalisation network being probed.
The accused is alleged to have propagated extremist ideologies online, aiming to establish a Khilafat state and enforce Sharia law within India. The ATS also alleged that Hangargekar conducted religious instruction sessions (dars) to influence young Muslims, gradually promoting stricter religious adherence. These sessions reportedly culminated in Islamic congregations (ijtima) at Padgah in Thane, where participants were further radicalised and assessed for mental and physical preparedness.
During earlier investigations, electronic devices seized from Hangargekar revealed international contacts from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman, although call logs showed no active communication. Mobile devices also contained extremist literature, including deleted PDFs related to AQIS, an Urdu translation of an Eid-ul-Fitr speech by Osama bin Laden, and copies of the magazine Inspire, which featured visuals of weapons training and instructions for making improvised explosive devices (IEDs) using acetone peroxide.
The ATS had previously reported that Hangargekar delivered “aggressive” religious discourses in Pune’s Kondhwa area. Authorities claim the activities of Hangargekar and his associates were systematically designed to gradually indoctrinate youths, potentially grooming them for extremist operations.
Under UAPA provisions, suspects in terror-related cases can be placed in police custody for a maximum of 30 days. The ATS continues to investigate the full extent of Hangargekar’s alleged network, including potential links abroad, as authorities seek to piece together the broader radicalisation web.
