The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Chennai Zonal Office, conducted search operations on July 30 at 15 residential premises located in Chennai, Coimbatore, Mumbai and Hyderabad under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with the money laundering and terror financing investigation related to the 2022 Coimbatore bomb blast case.
In a statement issued, the ED said that during the search operations, various incriminating documents and digital devices were recovered and seized.
The NIA has already been probing the terror link case and has searched the premises of the accused and their associates. The ED has now stepped in to investigate the PMLA angle. As part of this, the raids were carried out.
According to a release, “ED initiated investigation on the basis of various FIRs registered by the NIA in connection with the suicide VB-IED explosion that occurred on 23.10.2022 near the ancient Kottai Sangameshwarar Thirukovil temple at Coimbatore. The bomb blast was caused by suicide bomber Jamesha Mubeen, who had pledged allegiance to ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) before his death.”
It said that Mubeen and others carried out the attack to avenge the arrest of one Mohammed Azarudeen, who had deeply inspired them. It added that Mohammed Azarudeen himself was a radical preacher who conducted religious classes, professing support for ISIS and inducing the participants to further its objectives in India.
The central agency added, “A total of 12 accused in the bomb blast case, including Jamesha Mubeen and Mohammed Azarudeen, were students of Jameel Basha, promoter of Madras Arabic College (also known as Kovai Arabic College). Basha, under the garb of conducting Arabic classes, promoted Khilafat ideology and martyrdom through jihad, advocating violence and armed struggle to establish an Islamic state in India.”
The ED found during its investigation that the accused persons carried out a fake COVID-19 vaccine certificate scam between August 2021 and June 2022 to fund their terror activities.
In the scam, they supplied fake COVID-19 vaccine certificates to people in various parts of Tamil Nadu and Mumbai who wanted a COVID-19 vaccine certificate without getting vaccinated, in exchange for money.
“The proceeds of crime generated from this activity were directly used for the procurement of bombing material as well as to support the activities of Madras Arabic College / Kovai Arabic College.”
The release from the ED claimed that Jameel Basha raised funds for the activities of Madras Arabic College / Kovai Arabic College through donations and business investments from his former students, investors and other persons.
“These funds were used to conduct classes under the garb of Arabic education, through both online and physical modes, to indoctrinate gullible youth with extremist ideas.”
The ED said its investigation revealed that the proceeds of crime generated by Jameel Basha through Madras Arabic College / Kovai Arabic College were used for organising the Arabic classes, foreign travel, personal expenses and investments.
It said that during the search action, digital devices such as mobile phones and laptops were recovered and seized.
“Further, incriminating documents related to the monetary transactions and immovable property investments by the accused persons were also recovered and seized.”
It is pertinent to note that the NIA has so far arrested a total of 18 accused in connection with the October 2022 ISIS-inspired Coimbatore car bomb blast case. The main suicide bomber, Jamesha Mubeen, died during the vehicle-borne IED explosion.
The investigation remains ongoing. In June 2025, the NIA arrested four more accused, including Ahmed Ali and Sheik Dawood, alleging that they were part of the wider terror ecosystem linked to the conspiracy and the activities of the Madras Arabic College.
Earlier, the agency had filed supplementary charge sheets naming additional accused, including Thaha Naseer, while continuing to probe the alleged radicalisation network, funding channels and logistical support behind the ISIS-inspired conspiracy.
The ED’s latest searches are part of the financial investigation into the alleged money laundering and terror financing aspects of the case.
The October 2022 Coimbatore car bomb blast case remains one of the most significant ISIS-inspired terror investigations in Tamil Nadu.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which took over the probe from the Tamil Nadu Police, has been investigating an alleged radicalisation network, terror conspiracy, recruitment and funding linked to the suicide bombing near the historic Kottai Sangameshwarar Temple in Coimbatore.
Over the course of the investigation, the NIA has filed multiple charge sheets and supplementary charge sheets, arrested several accused, and expanded its probe into the alleged role of the Madras Arabic College (also known as Kovai Arabic College) and its associates in promoting extremist ideology and facilitating the terror conspiracy.
