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ATS Says Pune IT Engineer Urged Boycott of Democracy, Circulated Al-Qaeda Content

Investigators cite seized extremist publications following a DRDO review of bomb‑making material.

Overview

  • Zubair Hangargekar, 37, was arrested on October 27 under the UAPA and remains in judicial custody until November 28.
  • The ATS told the court he sought to recruit for Al-Qaeda and AQIS while preaching that democracy is against Shariat.
  • Forensic checks on his devices allegedly found Al-Qaeda and AQIS magazines, including Inspire with 'OSJ Gun School' and 'OSJ Bomb School' and acetone peroxide IED instructions.
  • Officials say he ran Telegram groups discussing Ghazwa‑e‑Hind, Khilafat and replacing India’s democratic system with Shariat, and held secret Dars in Pune, Solapur and Thane.
  • Investigators are examining over 1 TB of seized data and probing contacts traced to 2015 in Pune and Hyderabad, with DRDO’s HEMRL providing a technical report on explosive content.