In a major counter‑terror operation, the Gujarat Anti‑Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested four individuals linked to Al‑Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) on July 23, 2025 . The suspects - Mohd Faiq, Mohd Fardeen, Sefullah Kureshi, and Zeeshan Ali - were accused of orchestrating a fake currency racket and disseminating extremist ideology through social media and auto‑delete apps that erased messages to evade detection .

The arrests were the result of coordinated surveillance and intelligence gathering by the ATS. Officials revealed that the suspects leveraged encrypted and ephemeral messaging to coordinate with AQIS operatives abroad and spread propaganda. One suspect was apprehended outside Gujarat, underscoring the network’s multi-state reach .

The investigation now focuses on the depth of their network, the volume of fake currency in circulation, and possible local collaborators. Police and central agencies are combing through recovered digital devices and transaction records. Authorities emphasize that the case highlights the rising challenge of tech-savvy terror outfits using ephemeral communication tools to stay hidden - and affirm their commitment to dismantling such covert networks.