Unanswered questions remain on why, despite being mentioned in the chargesheet, Mohammad Arshad Warsi was not made an accused along with Sharjeel Imam in the Delhi Riots case.
Sagarika Mitra, Content Head of JAN KI BAAT delves into his social media personality to reveal his mindset
In an age dominated by social media, no one’s intentions remain hidden – not even those of an ‘educated’ and tech-savvy ISIS terror suspect. In my relentless quest to unveil the connection between Arshad Warsi, the arrested ISIS terror suspect, and Sharjeel Imam, the main accused in the Delhi riots conspiracy, I meticulously scrutinised Warsi’s social media footprint. The revelations I unearthed were nothing short of astonishing. They offer a deep dive into the mind of a highly radicalised individual, as evidenced by his posts on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter)
Before we delve into Warsi’s social media posts, let’s paint a comprehensive portrait of this individual:
Who is Arshad Warsi, the ISIS terror suspect, recently arrested by officers of the Delhi Police Special Cell?
29 year old Arshad Warsi hails from Garwah in Jharkhand. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Aligarh Muslim University and was pursuing PhD in ‘Islamic Principles in Management’ at Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia University. His arrest by the Delhi Police special cell exposed his alleged involvement in plotting terror attacks as a member of the Pune ISIS module.
Shockingly, his name also appears in the chargesheets related to the Delhi riots of 2020, with evidence pointing to his constant communication with Sharjeel Imam. Sources privy to the investigation suggest that Warsi played a pivotal role in setting up the protest site at Shaheen Bagh during the CAA-NRC protests, and his exchanges with Sharjeel Imam just before the outbreak of communal violence are now under investigation.
What do Arshad Warsi’s social media posts reveal about his mindset?
On X (formerly Twitter), Arshad Warsi goes by the handle @007ArshadWarsi, having joined the platform in August 2012. He boasts approximately 942 followers and follows 16 accounts.
His last ‘X’ post (tweet), a retweet by Ali Sohrab on April 3, 2020, pertains to Tablighi Jamat and the media coverage about it during the Covid outbreak. Interestingly, Ali Sohrab, who claimed to be a ‘journalist,’ was arrested by U.P Police in November 2019 for posting objectionable and provocative tweets regarding the Supreme Court’s judgment on the Ram Janmabhoomi verdict. Sohrab’s posts aimed to inflame communal tensions and radicalize Muslims. If one goes through Arshad Warsi’s social media, one gets a sense that he is influenced by people who spew venom against the Hindu community.
Let’s delve into another tweet from
March 22, 2020 – Amidst the communal riots in North East Delhi, Warsi shared a video on his ‘X’ (formerly twitter) account with the caption:
Hamara Naara kaun sa hai?
Tera Mera Rishta kya?
#La_ilaha_illallah
Tera Mera Qayad kaun?
#Muhammadur_Rasulullah
Zindagi ki Qeemat kya?
#La_ilaha_illallah
Aazadi ka matlab kya?
#La_ilaha_illallah
Inquilab ka matlab kya?
#La_ilaha_illallah
Aawaaz Doo.. Rabb Ek hai.
#AllahuAkbar
The same day, he posted another video with the caption:-
Tera Mera Rishta kya??
#La_ilaha_illallah
Tera Mera Qayad kaun?
#Muhammadur_Rasulullah
Kashmiriyon se Rishta kya?
#La_ilaha_illallah
Uyghur se Rishta kya?
#La_ilaha_illallah
AMU se Rishta kya?
#La_ilaha_illallah
Jamia se Rishta kya?
#La_ilaha_illallah
Takbeer #AllahuAkbar
If you listen to the video carefully, it starts with the slogan – ‘Rohingya se rishta kya, la ilaha illallah, Kashmiriyon se rishta kya la ilaha illallah’, – Slogans that underscored his divisive & radical mindset against various communities.
In another social media post, Arshad Warsi, who maintained constant contact with Sharjeel Imam during the Anti-CAA-NRC protests in Shaheen Bagh, led a social media campaign advocating for Sharjeel Imam’s release. On January 25, 2020, he posted on X using the hashtag #ISupportSharjeelimam
Further, social media posts from Warsi questioned Muslims who believed in secularism and democracy, disparagingly referring to them as “falsehood worshippers.” He voiced his disdain for those who rejected Islamist supremacy, while also praising those who took radical stances. Here’s a screenshot of one such tweet
On December 30, 2019, a pivotal moment during the Shaheen Bagh protests, while conspirators like Sharjeel Imam were allegedly planning ‘significant actions’, Arshad Warsi, the radical Islamist, made some striking statements on his ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) account that provide essential insights into his mindset:
“Hind will chant…
#LA_ILAHA_ILLALLAH
#Muhammad_Ur_Rasulullah”
On the same day, he proudly declared:
“We fight for the sake of ALLAH, we live for the sake of ALLAH, we die for the sake of Allah, we love and hate for the sake of ALLAH.
And we declare
#LA_ILAHA_ILLALLAH”
He was also part of the cabal that fear-mongered about ‘Muslims being under threat in India’
“Sanghis hate you because you are Muslim.
Tharoor declares you extremists.
Trump imposes a ban on you.
CAB rejects you.
NRC expels you.
But we declare #LA_ILAHA_ILLALLAH.”
Moving ahead to February 10, Warsi, while responding to a comment about Kashmir, made a statement that appeared to elevate terrorists to the status of martyrs:
“It’s for everyone of them too Akhi. May Allah(swt) grant patience and Istiqamat on the righteous path to all those Muslim brothers who are in the hands of Oppressors. And May Allah grant them a high rank in Jannah who have been martyred in the cause.”
These posts on social media underscore several significant aspects of Arshad Warsi’s beliefs and activities:
1. His persistent Islamist Ideology: Warsi’s posts reveal his unwavering commitment to Islamist ideals. He consistently advocated for the supremacy of Islam across India, reflecting his radicalised worldview.
2. Disdain for Secularism and Democracy: Warsi openly criticized Muslims who embraced secularism and democracy, viewing them with contempt as “falsehood worshippers.” He believed that Muslims should not shy away from their faith and should prioritise it above all else.
3. Active Involvement in Anti-CAA-NRC Protests: Warsi was not just a passive observer but actively engaged in mobilising, inciting, and misleading Muslims during the anti-CAA-NRC protests in Shaheen Bagh.
4. Connection to Delhi Riots Accused: While Warsi’s chats and communications with Delhi Riots accused Sharjeel Imam were part of the chargesheet, he was not made an accused in the case. This raises questions about why individuals with such radicalised beliefs were not constantly monitored and investigated.
His online presence gradually diminished after April 2020, potentially coinciding with his transition from extremist thoughts to acts of terror. As we delve deeper into the profile of the ISIS terror suspect, Mohammed Arshad Warsi, it becomes imperative to question why individuals with such radicalised ideologies were not subject to more vigilant monitoring and investigation, especially given the potential threats they posed to society at large.
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