A Telegram channel used to claim responsibility for placing an explosives-laden SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's home in Mumbai, was created from inside a barrack in Delhi's Tihar jail where an Indian Mujahideen terrorist is being kept, police sources have told NDTV.
This was revealed following a raid by the special team of the Delhi Police at the barrack housing Tehseen Akhtar, during which a mobile phone used to create the Telegram channel was found. Tehseen Akhtar was arrested following the 2014 serial blasts in Patna targeting Narendra Modi's rally; he is also linked to the serial blasts in Hyderabad and Bodh Gaya.
The police officials said that a virtual number was created using Tor browser to create an account in Telegram messaging app, through which a message claiming responsibility for placing an explosives-laden SUV near the industrialist's residence was sent.
The police is planning to take remand of Tehseen Akhtar to question him regarding the mobile phone seizure, the official said.
Another number - which was active in September but has since been suspended - is also on special cell radar, the official added. Both the numbers were purchased using fake IDs, he said.
A Mahindra Scorpio car with gelatin sticks was found parked near "Antilia", the multi-storey residence of Ambani, in south Mumbai on February 25.
"I have ordered an investigation. Action will be taken against anyone who is found to be at fault. I have written to DG (Prisons) that it should be properly investigated that how was a phone found inside the jail," Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
On Thursday, news agency PTI quoting a senior Mumbai police official, reported that the Telegram channel was "created in the Tihar" area of Delhi.
Based on the information, the Delhi Police's Special Cell approached the Tihar Jail administration, according to official sources.
"Tihar Jail authorities have seized a mobile phone which is suspected to have been used for operating Telegram channel used to claim responsibility for terror acts/ threats," the Delhi Police said today.
"Based on information provided by the Special Cell, Tihar Jail authorities have seized a mobile phone from a jail where certain terror convicts are lodged. It is suspected that this phone has been used for operating Telegram channels used recently for claiming responsibility for terror acts/ threats," said Pramod Singh Kushwah, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell).
Mumbai Police took the help of a private cyber agency to track the location of the phone on which the Telegram channel was created, PTI had reported quoting the senior Mumbai Police official.
During the investigation, the location of the phone was traced near Delhi''s Tihar Jail, it said.
A Mahindra Scorpio car with gelatin sticks was found parked near "Antilia", the multi-storey residence of Ambani, in south Mumbai on February 25.
According to police sources, the Telegram channel was created on February 26 and the message claiming responsibility for placing the vehicle outside Ambani residence was posted on the Telegram messaging app late in the night on February 27.
The message had also demanded payment in cryptocurrency and mentioned a link to deposit the same.
The investigation in the case was initially conducted by the Crime Branch of the Mumbai police.
After the mysterious death of Thane-based auto parts dealer Mansukh Hiran, who was in possession of the SUV that was later found parked outside Mr Ambani's residence, the probe was transferred to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
On Monday, the National Investigation Agency took over the case related to the recovery of the explosives-laden vehicle.
With inputs from agencies
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