Major operation by Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS)

Today (December 11, 2025), it has been reported that the ED and ATS are jointly conducting raids at approximately 40 locations. These searches are reportedly being carried out at locations linked to Saquib Nachan and his family.
This operation is considered part of a larger operation in which the agencies are conducting simultaneous raids at multiple locations.

Who was Saquib Nachan — A brief introduction

Saquib Nachan is a well-known name — he was formerly an office-bearer of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
Nachan’s role came into the spotlight during the 2002-03 Mumbai bomb blasts — which included explosions at railway stations and other locations. He was accused of possessing weapons and explosives under POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act).
He was released from jail in 2017 after completing his sentence. However, agencies allege that he became involved in radical activities again after his release, and that he allegedly declared his village, Padgha (Thane district, Maharashtra), as a center for ISIS.
Nachan died on June 28, 2025, in a Delhi hospital after suffering a brain hemorrhage.

Previous operation — Padgha, suspected of terrorism

In June 2025, the Maharashtra ATS and Thane Rural Police conducted a major raid in Padgha. During that operation, more than 250 police personnel and 20 ATS teams jointly searched approximately 15-22 locations, including Nachan’s house.
Officials stated that the raid was connected to a “terror-related case,” and there were suspicions that radicalization activities (violent conspiracies, etc.) were taking place there again.
This location, Padgha — a small village — has been under the scrutiny of agencies for two decades. Nachan and his family’s land holdings and social standing have long raised serious suspicions in the area.

What could this raid mean?

The sudden raids on 40 locations suggest this is not just a routine operation, but likely part of a larger, ongoing investigation. It’s possible that agencies have received new intelligence indicating that a network connected to Nachan has resumed activities.
These searches could be targeting Nachan’s family, associates, suspected accomplices, hideouts, or other premises where agencies have suspicions. The mention of “family-related locations” indicates that the focus is not just on the individual, but also on his network.
However, so far, media reports haven’t mentioned any major seizures of weapons or evidence of money laundering; therefore, the results and implications remain unclear. The agencies’ stance and further investigations will reveal whether there was actually a new conspiracy – or if this is simply a precautionary measure by security agencies.

Background to this news:

Nachan is accused of participating in radical activities linked to SIMI. He was later prosecuted in connection with the 2002-03 Mumbai blasts, charged with possession of weapons and explosives, and convicted under POTA.
His village, Padgha, was allegedly declared a hub for an ISIS module. It was alleged that activities such as weapons training, bomb-making, and radicalizing youth took place there.
In 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids in Padgha during a nationwide operation and arrested several associates. Questions that remain:
Simultaneous raids at 40 locations — are these all connected to Nachan, or is this part of an investigation into a larger network?
Have the agencies found any crucial evidence — weapons, cash, digital devices, documents related to a conspiracy — or is this merely an intelligence-based follow-up?
Nachan is dead, yet the searches continue — what does this mean? Is it directed against his family or associates — or something else entirely?
What impact will such actions have on the local people and community — will it increase security or create an atmosphere of fear, suspicion, and distrust?