Bengaluru: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized Rs 29,000 from the bank account of Syed Yasin, the main accused in the 2022 Mangaluru cooker bomb blast, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency’s ongoing investigation has revealed a broader terror conspiracy involving plans to bomb religious sites, use crypto currency for terror funding, and develop an underground network for ISIS activities across southern India.
In a sensational revelation, the ED confirmed that the main accused, Mohammed Shariq, had also plotted a terror attack at the Manjunatha Swamy Temple in Dharmasthala. According to the ED, Shariq had planned to plant and detonate a bomb at the temple. However, a technical glitch in the timer—set mistakenly to 9 seconds instead of 90 minutes—caused the IED (Improvised Explosive Device) to explode prematurely inside an auto-rickshaw in Mangaluru’s Kankanady area on November 19, 2022.
Shariq was seriously injured in the explosion, leading to his arrest. Investigations since then have exposed a broader terror network, where online handlers linked to ISIS, including one identified only as ‘Colonel’, were training and financing Indian operatives via secure platforms like Telegram and Wickr.
The ED’s findings point to a well-orchestrated financial channel. Maj Munir, another accused, played a pivotal role by providing information about unauthorized bank accounts, enabling Mohammed Shariq to receive terror funds sent by overseas handlers. The accused were trained to manufacture IEDs using tutorials shared via encrypted messaging platforms. These instructions included detailed guidance on assembling bombs and conducting surveillance.
To avoid detection, the accused used cryptocurrency and unauthorized financial networks. The crypto funds were routed through Point of Sale (POS) agents, who helped convert the digital money into cash in exchange for a commission. Approximately Rs 2.86 lakh was thus funneled to operatives like Shariq and Yasin.
The ED revealed that these funds were used to purchase raw materials online for making IEDs,
Rent safe houses in Mysuru and other locations and to conduct reconnaissance across Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu for potential terror targets
Furthermore, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which had earlier taken over the case from the local police, had seized Rs 39,000 from Shariq’s bag at the time of the auto blast. The NIA continues to lead the primary investigation into the terror angle, while the ED is focusing on the financial trail under the PMLA.
Currently, Mohammed Shariq, Syed Yasin, and Maj Munir are all in judicial custody. The ED stated that their investigation is active and that more seizures, arrests, or links to international handlers cannot be ruled out.
The original explosion occurred in an auto rickshaw around 4:40 PM on November 19, 2022, near Kankanady, under Mangaluru Police jurisdiction. The case began as a local complaint lodged by auto driver K. Purushottam, who had picked up Shariq as a passenger. It was only later that investigators discovered the IED had been intended for a much larger target—possibly at Dharmasthala, a major pilgrimage destination in Karnataka.
The ED has registered an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) under the PMLA, parallel to the NIA’s ongoing terror probe. The dual investigations now focus on unraveling the terror financing ecosystem, especially the increasing use of cryptocurrencies and darknet networks by home-grown extremists receiving support from global jihadist groups.
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