Nagpur: A crucial courtroom testimony has brought fresh details to light in the case involving alleged reconnaissance of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh headquarters in Mahal and the Dr. Hedgewar Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh, with an airline official confirming that the accused paid for his flight ticket in US dollars using his father’s card.
Court Testimony Highlights Financial Trail
During proceedings before the special sessions court, IndiGo Airlines’ then airport manager Charu Verma deposed as a prosecution witness, stating that the accused, Rais Ahmed Sheikh alias Asadullah Sheikh, had booked his ticket to Nagpur through the airline’s platform and completed the transaction in US dollars. The payment, she testified, was made using his father’s card.
The testimony was recorded as part of the ongoing trial, where the prosecution is attempting to establish both the logistical trail and intent behind the accused’s visit to Nagpur.
Travel Route and Timeline Under Scrutiny
According to the prosecution, the accused took a flight from Srinagar to Mumbai and then to Nagpur on July 13, 2021. On his return journey he took the route via Delhi to reach Srinagar on July 15 2021. Investigators believe the route was chosen to avoid drawing attention, rather than taking a direct flight that could have triggered suspicion.
The court was informed that the accused is linked to the banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed and had allegedly come to Nagpur to conduct reconnaissance of key RSS locations.
Arrest and Custody
The case traces back to September 2021, when Kashmir Police detained the accused during questioning over suspected terror links. Subsequent interrogation reportedly revealed the Nagpur reconnaissance angle.
He was later arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad and brought to Nagpur, where he remains lodged in the central jail under judicial custody. His presence during hearings is currently being secured through video conferencing.
Bail Denied Amid Serious Charges
Courts have so far denied relief to the accused, citing the gravity of the charges. The prosecution has maintained before higher courts that there is substantive evidence linking him to terrorist activities.
Background: From Pulwama to Nagpur
Earlier investigations had identified Rais Ahmed Sheikh as a 26-year-old resident of Awantipora in J&K’s Pulwama district. Coming from a financially strained background, he was allegedly drawn into the Jaish-e-Mohammed network through personal contacts.
He is believed to have travelled to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2021, where he came under the influence of handlers linked to the group. Despite being a relatively new recruit, he was tasked with conducting reconnaissance in Nagpur.
In July 2022, he reportedly spent several days (from 13-15 July 2021) in the city, staying in a local masjid (Santra Market Masjid) and visiting the Reshimbagh area, where he filmed the features of the vicinity of the Dr. Hedgewar Smruti Bhavan and shared the footage with a handler identified as Omar. Investigators say he was ordered by Omar to gather more footage on July 14 but due to the crowd, he panicked and returned to the masjid and left the next day.
Subsequent developments, including his arrest in Kashmir and the recovery of explosives, led to the reconstruction of his movements and the registration of a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in Nagpur.
Probe Expands to Local Links
The investigation is now focused on identifying any local support network that may have assisted the accused during his stay. Officials are examining whether he received help with accommodation, transport, or ticket bookings while in Nagpur.
As the trial progresses, the prosecution is expected to rely on both financial records and travel data, alongside earlier confessional statements, to build its case around intent, planning, and execution of the alleged reconnaissance.
