Jama Masjid blast: Police file chargesheets against IM suspect

Police claimed that Waqas was sent to India after a failed terror plot to target foreign tourists outside German Bakery.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police has filed two separate chargesheets against alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Zia-Ur-Rehman alias Waqas in the September 2010 Jama Masjid terror attack case — where two Taiwanese tourists had sustained injuries and a car had caught fire after a mild blast.

In the chargesheet filed before Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh, Waqas has been booked for offences punishable under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 307 (attempt to murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act.

Police said 25-year-old Waqas — a Pakistani national — had come to India in September 2010 on the instructions of IM co-founder Riyaz Bhatkal. “Waqas was sent to assist Ahmed Siddibappa (IM chief Yasin Bhatkal) in the execution of a terrorist attack before the Commonwealth Games, to dissuade foreign nations from participating in the Games and to portray the image of India, as a weak and disturbed nation,” the chargsheet said.

Police claimed that Waqas was sent to India after the failed terror attempt to target foreign tourists outside German Bakery in Paharganj in 2010. Yasin Bhatkal and others had then planned to carry out a terror strike at Jama Masjid on the occasion of the Batla House encounter anniversary, police alleged.

Waqas and five other accused also conducted a recee at Jama Masjid area, the chargesheet said.

The electric material used to prepare circuits for IEDs were purchased by Waqas from Lajpat Rai Market, police said.

Police said Waqas came to India through Nepal and met Yasin Bhatkal and other IM members at a hideout in Darbhanga, Bihar. The owner of the house has also identified Waqas’s photograph.

Kaunain Sheriff M

As City Editor ( Delhi) at the Indian Express, Kaunain Sheriff leads city reporting with a sharp focus on accountability journalism, data-driven stories, and ground-level impact. As the National Health Editor he leads the newsroom’s in-depth coverage of pressing health issues. He is the author of Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant, a definitive investigation into the accountability of one of the world’s most powerful pharmaceutical corporations. Areas of Expertise Investigative Reporting: Has deep expertise in investigative reporting spanning public health, regulatory affairs, drug safety, and the criminal justice system. His work sits at the intersection of governance, law, and accountability, with a particular focus on how regulatory failures, institutional lapses, and policy decisions affect citizens’ rights and safety. Data Journalism: Has extensively on big data–driven investigations, including analyses of flagship government schemes and large datasets on criminal trials, uncovering systemic gaps. Global Collaborations Kaunain is a key contributor to major international journalistic projects: The Implant Files: Collaborated with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) to expose global malpractices in the medical device industry. Chinese Big-Data Investigation: Uncovered how a foreign data firm monitored thousands of prominent Indian institutions and individuals in real-time. Awards & Recognition His commitment to "Journalism of Courage" has been recognized with the industry's highest honors: Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism SOPA Award (Society of Publishers in Asia) Red Ink Award (Mumbai Press Club) Indian Express Excellence Awards (Triple recipient for investigations into the NSA abuse in UP, Vyapam scam, and the anti-Sikh riots). Education: Studied Mechanical Engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Bangalore, before moving to Delhi to pursue his passion for journalism. His engineering training informs his analytical approach, enabling him to decode technical, legal, and data-heavy systems with precision. Social media LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kaunain-sheriff-3a00ab99 X ( fromerly Twitter): @kaunain_s ... Read More

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Indian Mujahideen