The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has achieved a significant breakthrough in its fight against terrorism, exposing a large-scale terror funding racket connected to proscribed organizations like the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the Indian Mujahideen (IM). As part of this action, the ED has temporarily seized the immovable assets of Raju Khan, a key figure within the network, valued in crores of rupees. This measure was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, showcasing the unwavering commitment of India’s investigative agencies to dismantle the infrastructure supporting terrorist financing.
This case is not merely about the seizure of one individual’s assets; it unveils a complex and well-orchestrated terror funding network that has been operational within the country for years. According to the investigating agencies, Raju Khan played a “critical role” in this network. Forensic analysis of his bank accounts revealed that he received a total of ₹48.82 lakh. A sum of ₹42.47 lakh of this total was reportedly forwarded to members of the banned organizations. These financial transactions were executed based on instructions from Khalid, who is operating from Pakistan, and his associate Dheeraj Sao in India. The funds, which amounted to lakhs of rupees, were being channeled to sleeper cells and operatives across various parts of the nation to facilitate their terrorist activities.
The genesis of this case can be traced back to 2011, when Dheeraj Sao, a resident of Bihar, operated a modest chicken shop in the Khamtarai area of Raipur. His life took a drastic turn when he received a phone call from Khalid in Pakistan. Khalid instructed him to open a bank account and to transfer funds to specific individuals. In exchange for his services, Dheeraj was entitled to retain 13% of the total amount as commission, while the remainder was to be deposited into the accounts of Zubair Hussain, Ayesha Banu, and others dispersed across the country.
The investigation uncovered that the funding was not conducted in a single transaction but was structured in multiple layers. Dheeraj Sao utilized several bank accounts to gather funds from various sources, often in cash. These funds were subsequently transferred to individuals like Zubair Hussain, Ayesha Banu, and Raju Khan. Raju Khan’s accounts were particularly significant as they were employed to further distribute the funds to multiple recipients, thus creating a complex and difficult-to-trace network.
The ED’s probe originated from an FIR lodged at the Khamtarai police station in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, against Dheeraj Sao and others under different sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. The FIR alleged that certain bank accounts were used to receive funds from undisclosed sources in India and to subsequently transfer those funds based on Khalid’s directives.
As per the investigators, Raju Khan played a key role in this terror financing network. He was not simply a pawn, but an individual who actively aided in the transfer of funds to the members of the banned organizations. Analyzing his bank accounts showed that he received total deposits of ₹48.82 lakh, with ₹42.47 lakh of that amount transferred to the organization’s members.
Most strikingly, Raju Khan kept ₹6.34 lakh as a commission, which equated to about 13%. The ED has classified this sum as the proceeds of crime. This action underscores how even minor players can profit from involvement in larger terrorist plots. The property seized by the ED from Raju Khan is linked to this ₹6.34 lakh.
Raju Khan’s criminal history does not end there. Since his arrest on December 5, 2021, he has been in judicial custody. On December 21, 2023, he was rearrested in Delhi in a separate case involving the distribution of fraudulent SIM cards used in cyber fraud and identity theft. This led to over 180 FIRs being registered across multiple states. Raju Khan’s bail petitions have been rejected in both cases, and he faces charges under both PMLA and UAPA.
The case began with the arrest of Dheeraj Sao in 2013, along with his uncle’s son, Shravan, in Raipur. Information gleaned from their arrests led investigators to Zubair Hussain and Ayesha Banu, both residents of Mangalore, who were later apprehended. Raju Khan, who hailed from West Bengal, remained at large until 2021 when he was finally captured. All of the accused individuals are currently incarcerated in Raipur Central Jail.