New Delhi, 30 July (H.S.): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out simultaneous searches at 16 locations in Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad and Mumbai as part of its investigation into alleged terror funding linked to the 2022 Coimbatore bomb blast case. The investigation has revealed that the accused allegedly raised funds for terrorist activities through a fake COVID-19 vaccine certificate racket and donations and fraudulent investments collected in the name of Kovai Arabic College.

The ED said the action was being carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as part of an investigation initiated on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

According to the probe agency, the suicide car bomb blast near Sangameshwarar Temple in Coimbatore in 2022 was carried out by Jameesha Mubin and his associates. The attack was executed using a modified Maruti car loaded with explosives and was allegedly inspired by the banned terrorist organisation Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The ED investigation has revealed that the accused allegedly adopted two major methods to raise funds for terrorist activities. The first involved operating a racket to create fake COVID-19 vaccination certificates during the pandemic, through which money was collected from people seeking certificates without undergoing vaccination.

The second method involved collecting donations and securing fraudulent investments in the name of Kovai Arabic College. According to the investigation, the institution was allegedly involved in activities aimed at radicalising young people.

The ED stated that 12 accused in the bomb blast case, including suicide attacker Jameesha Mubin, had studied at Kovai Arabic College through online or offline modes. According to the investigation, the college operator Jameel Basha allegedly guided these youths, following which they were influenced by Salafi-jihadist ideology and conspired to carry out a terrorist attack in support of ISIS.

The ED said further investigation into the case is underway.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar