Doctor Charged in ISIS-Linked 'Bio-Terror' Plot To Carry Out Mass Poisoning in India in Public Spaces

India's counter-terror agency has accused a Hyderabad doctor and two men from Uttar Pradesh of plotting an ISIS-linked 'bio-terror' attack using the deadly toxin ricin to carry out mass poisoning in public spaces, according to a chargesheet filed before a special court in Ahmedabad.

India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed the chargesheet against Hyderabad-based doctor Syed Ahmed Mohiuddin, an MBBS graduate, and Azad and Mohammad Suhel, both from Uttar Pradesh, alleging they conspired with ISIS-linked handlers abroad to prepare and use ricin.

The NIA alleges the men operated under the guidance of foreign-based handlers linked to Islamic State, with activities including recruitment, communication with handlers, reconnaissance and the handling of funds and weapons consignments.

In August 2026, a special NIA court in Ahmedabad rejected Mohiuddin's application for regular bail. Reporting on the ruling said the court found the prosecution material indicated, on a prima facie basis, his involvement in the alleged conspiracy, while the defence disputed the allegations against him.

How the Ricin Plot Probe Began

The case originated with Mohiuddin's arrest by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) at a toll plaza in November 2025. According to the NIA, officers found illegal weapons, a bottle containing four litres of castor oil and other incriminating articles in his vehicle. The same day, the ATS investigation led to the arrest of Azad and Suhel.

The NIA took over the investigation in January 2026. The agency alleges that Mohiuddin had converted his Hyderabad residence into a clandestine laboratory for preparing ricin from castor seeds, and that the men sought to recruit vulnerable young people who had been radicalised by the foreign-based handlers to support jihad and spread terror through prohibited weapons and bioterrorism.

Ricin, a highly toxic biological substance derived from castor seeds, is listed in Schedule I of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The NIA alleges the accused planned to use the toxin in a mass-poisoning attack to further what the agency described as the 'nefarious agenda' of Islamic State.

Chargesheet, Court Hearings and Disputed Claims

The chargesheet was filed before the NIA Special Court at Ahmedabad on 5 May 2026. The agency has alleged that the accused maintained contact with foreign-based handlers and acted on their instructions, though the NIA's public statement did not identify specific intended target locations.

The case remains before the special NIA court in Ahmedabad, with further judicial proceedings to follow. The allegations have been contested by Mohiuddin's defence. During the August 2026 bail hearing, his lawyer argued that he was innocent and disputed the prosecution's allegations concerning his links to a terrorist organisation and his knowledge of the ricin and weapons found in his car.

The three men are accused of the offences and have not been convicted. The allegations have yet to be tested at trial.

Wider ISIS Probe and Unanswered Questions

The NIA's investigation forms part of a wider inquiry into alleged ISIS-linked networks operating across Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. The agency has said it continues to investigate the alleged conspiracy, including the possible involvement of other operatives and handlers based overseas.

No details have been made public regarding how far any preparation of ricin had progressed at the time of the arrests, beyond the agency's allegation of a clandestine laboratory at Mohiuddin's residence. The NIA has not disclosed further information about the scale or timing of any planned attack.

The case is being heard under India's anti-terrorism laws, with the special NIA court in Ahmedabad continuing to oversee proceedings following the rejection of Mohiuddin's bail application in August.