A 32-year-old man was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and handed over to the local police in Mumbai's Mahim area for posting allegedly inflammatory comments and videos of Pakistan-based terrorist organisation head Maulana Masood Azhar of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). According to the ATS, the man worked as a Rapido driver and a perfume seller to avoid suspicion. The man was arrested near the Mahim Metro station following a tip-off.

The police said the accused had been identified as Mohammad Hassan Abu Sarmad Akhtar, a resident of L J Road in Mahim. As per the investigating agency, he was in contact with a Pakistani intelligence operation. The accused also promoted religious enmity and shared terror audio clips of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar concerning the Babri Masjid on Telegram in a group named 'Indian Muslim'. Probe revealed that Akhtar had subscribed to an extremist Pakistani channel on Telegram, named "IBN E Qasim."

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Suspicious Posts on Instagram and X

The Mahiresident had made several contentious posts on social media. Some of which included an open call for Jihad. He made posts and comments saying, "Ab jihad ka zamana agya hai" (It's time for Jihad) and inciting violence. Akhtar recently commented on a post discussing a security breach in Mumbai ahead of PM Modi's visit: "Kuch karana tha Indira Gandhi ki tarah PM Modi ko bhi bhai log (Something like Indira Gandhi should have been done to PM Modi)," referring to an assassination. 

Phone Seized, Case Registered

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The ATS had received specific input on October 21 that a resident of Mahim was in touch with a Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO). The accused was detained based on the input.

The police teams checked his mobile phones and found that he had created WhatsApp, Telegram, and other groups and was active on social media, posting various types of content.Cops have seized a Redmi Note 14 Pro mobile phone from Akhtar and secured 39 screenshots of his objectionable social media activity for the investigation.

The FIR was registered under Section 196(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which refers to promoting enmity between groups.