'Conducted recce of Red Fort, India Gate': Odisha youth’s questioning reveals sleeper cells, terror financing, attack plans

BHUBANESWAR: Delhi police on Saturday said the arrest of radicalised youth Sheikh Imran and three others has exposed an active sleeper cell linked to terror financing, online indoctrination and preparations for violent attacks.

A week ago, Imran was picked up by Delhi Police Special Cell from here and taken on transit remand. On Saturday, it arrested and produced in court Imran and three others, Mosaib Ahmad, Mohammad Hammad from Maharashtra and Mohammad Sohail from Bihar.

Police said the group believed in the emergence of an army from Khurasan to establish a caliphate in the Indian sub-continent and beyond. Investigators found that they were preparing to join Lashkar for participation in Ghazwa-e-Hind while also radicalising others, a communication from Delhi police said.

Delhi police said Imran was an active member of a sleeper cell and was closely working with terrorist groups to raise funds. He was part of the network involved in brainwashing youths for religious conversion and extremist mobilisation.

Police said Imran discussed targeting the Ram Mandir, Parliament and military installations. “He (Imran) visited Delhi in Dec 2025 to conduct a recce of Red Fort and India Gate. It was also found he promised arms and physical training, including horse riding, in Odisha and asked members to contribute funds. One accused also visited sensitive installations, including Red Fort, and posted an image showing a black flag atop the monument to radicalise others,” a communication from special cell read.

According to the special cell, Imran was spreading content through various social media platforms to indoctrinate youths. A communication from Delhi police said the accused were admins and members of various closed groups on encrypted social media platforms and were engaged in recruiting for the caliphate.

Police said the material used for preparation of an IED was recovered from one accused. Investigators found that two members of the module were in the process of collecting material for a remote-controlled IED to be used for a terrorist attack.

The probe also found that one member was exhorting others to collect weapons and explosives for participating in Ghazwa-e-Hind and shared account and QR code details on social media for crowdfunding. Another member allegedly promised to arrange arms training and sought money from others for it.
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