A late-night search by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at Al-Falah University has uncovered ₹18 lakh in cash from the hostel room of Dr. Shaheen Shahid, intensifying concerns about a suspected “white-collar terror module” operating from within the campus.
The cash bundles were recovered from room number 32, stacked neatly inside an almirah. Investigators believe the money may have been kept aside to financially support the alleged module linked to the November 10 Delhi blast, for which Shaheen was arrested earlier.
How the NIA traced the trail
Before arriving at the university, the NIA had taken Shaheen to a shop in Faridabad’s NIT area as part of a spot-identification exercise. This shop is suspected to be the source of chemicals used to make explosives.
Afterward, she was escorted to the university’s administrative block, where she pointed out a locker she had used. The team then moved to her hostel room for a detailed search, resulting in the ₹18 lakh recovery. Officers counted the cash on the spot and immediately seized it.
Officials say the next step is to determine:
- Where the money came from
- Who helped channel it
- Whether the funds were part of a larger operational network
Searches have begun to trace individuals who may have facilitated or transferred the money.
Reconstructing Shaheen’s movements
Following the seizure, the NIA mapped out Shaheen’s daily routine on campus. She was taken to:
- The medical ward
- Her classroom
- The doctor’s cabin
- Other frequently visited locations
This was done to identify possible associates and understand how the alleged network operated inside the university.
Sources say Shaheen stayed active in the suspected module even while teaching, expanding her contacts both within and beyond the campus.
Another key suspect reveals more clues
The operation comes just a day after the NIA questioned Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, another Al-Falah doctor arrested for involvement in the same terror case.
During his interrogation in Faridabad, Muzammil identified two shops from where he allegedly bought ammonium nitrate, which investigators later found stored across multiple locations linked to him.
The NIA has now discovered:
- Two additional hideouts connected to Muzammil
- Nearly 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate kept in rooms a few kilometres from the university
- Parts of the material hidden in village fields
- A rented house in Fatehpur Taga, taken from a local cleric, used to store explosives
This has sparked fears that more explosive material may still be hidden elsewhere.
Investigation intensifies
With large cash recoveries, multiple identified hideouts, and significant quantities of explosive material found, the NIA is now compiling a list of all students, staff members, and external contacts who may have interacted with the two accused.
The agency believes both Shaheen and Muzammil played active roles in building a network that blended into academic life, making it harder to detect.
The probe continues, with more raids expected as investigators work to unravel what appears to be a deeply embedded, well-organised “white-collar” terror setup.
