Sagarika Mitra, Content Head of JAN KI BAAT, exposes the deep links between the ISIS terror accused and the 2020 Delhi riots accused, Sharjeel Imam.
Arshad Warsi, 29 years old, a resident of Jharkhand and a Mechanical Engineer from Aligarh Muslim University. He was also pursuing a PhD in ‘Islamic Principles in Management’ from Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia University. Today he stands accused of being part of the dangerous Pune ISIS terror module that was plotting IED blasts across the country. He was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in Lucknow recently, and along with him, officers also arrested his aides and terror suspects, Shahnawaz Alam from Jaitpur, Delhi and Mohammed Rizwan Ashraf from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh
The investigation into the case has now revealed a sinister connection between Mohammad Arshad Warsi and Delhi riots accused – Sharjeel Imam. Warsi is believed to have played a pivotal role in orchestrating the conspiracy behind the communal violence during the anti CAA-NRC protests in Delhi.
His name is reportedly mentioned in the chargesheets of the Delhi riots 2020, it states that he was in constant communication with Sharjeel Imam. Sources privy to the investigation say that Warsi was involved in setting up the protest site at Shaheen Bagh during the CAA-NRC protests. His communication with Sharjeel Imam, including the messages they exchanged before the communal violence broke out, is now under investigation.
Sharjeel Imam was the mastermind behind the formation of the ‘Muslim Students of JNU (MSJ)’ group, that was created on December 5, 2019, just one day after the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) was introduced in Parliament. Chats recovered from confiscated phones have revealed that Imam and Arshad Warsi were in constant contact, discussing their sinister plans.
On December 6, 2019, pamphlets authored by Sharjeel Imam were distributed in the Jama Masjid area by the MSJ group. These pamphlets had a clear agenda—inciting hate and communal discord by invoking the Supreme Court’s decision in the Ram Janmabhoomi case.
Phrases like “Law of Allah above all else” and “The command of Allah is above every law” adorned these pamphlets, clearly designed to provoke. They also called for mass mobilisation at the protest organized by ‘United Against Hate’ at Jantar Mantar. The chargesheet states that Sharjeel Imam was reaching out to Arshad Warsi for the purpose of ‘mass mobilisation’ before the Delhi riots.
As per the chargesheet, on December 7, 2019, Sharjeel Imam made a significant declaration—he would be participating in the protests organised by United Against Hate. While participation in a protest is a democratic right, what adds a sinister dimension to this revelation is Imam’s subsequent statement. On that very day, he told Arshad Warsi – that he had ‘grand plans’ for the following week. The message read – ‘Kuch Bada Karna Hai’
Moreover, Arshad Warsi’s arrest in the ISIS Pune module case brings to light an even more sinister dimension to his activities. It was Warsi who allegedly facilitated the sheltering of Shahnawaz in Delhi, a most-wanted terrorist with a Rs 3 lakh reward on his head. Together, they plotted terrorist attacks, and with the information extracted from Warsi during his interrogation, the Delhi Police Special Cell was able to apprehend Shahnawaz.
The unfolding events paint a chilling picture of Mohammad Arshad Warsi—a highly radicalized individual who cunningly masked his extremist agenda under the guise of education. His actions serve as a stark reminder of the insidious threat of radicalisation that continues to lurk in our society. Warsi’s connection to Sharjeel Imam, a Delhi Riots 2020 accused, should jolt one into recognising the urgent need to counter radical ideologies with an iron fist approach.
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