In a significant development in Chandigarh attack probe, the special NIA court in Mohali has directed the director of the Digital Investigation Training and Analysis Centre (DITAC), Mohali, to hand over the forensic report and extracted data from the mobile phone of accused Abhijot Singh to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). This data, though originally linked to a different case, has now emerged as vital to Chandigarh grenade attack probe.
The court passed this order following an appeal by the Senior Public Prosecutor representing the NIA.
During police custody, accused Rohan Masih said that he visited Chandigarh on August 17 and 18, 2024, under the instructions of Harpreet Singh — also known as Happy Passia — who is based in the United States. Masih was accompanied by an associate called Gopi. Investigation of call detail records and tower dump data reportedly confirmed that Abhijot Singh had facilitated Rohan Masih’s travel to Chandigarh and arranged a motorcycle with a fake number plate.
Abhijot Singh was arrested on December 12, 2024, under FIR No. 75/2024 registered at the Ghaniye Ke Bangar police station in Gurdaspur.
His mobile phone was subsequently sent to DITAC for forensic analysis. As the grenade attack probe was later transferred to the NIA, the data extracted from Abhijot’s device is now deemed crucial to the investigation.
The court order
The court has instructed DITAC to submit both the analysis report and all extracted data from the mobile phone to the investigating officer and to the court, so that the evidence can be utilized in the ongoing NIA investigation. Copies of the order have also been sent to both the NIA and DITAC.
Background of the case
The incident under investigation occurred on September 11, 2024, when two assailants launched a grenade attack on a house in Sector 10-D, Chandigarh, while travelling in an auto-rickshaw. Although no casualties were reported, the explosion shattered the windowpanes of the property. The attack raised suspicions of a terrorist link, prompting the authorities to hand the case over to the NIA.
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Based on CCTV footage, the police arrested Rohan Masih and Vishal Masih in connection with the assault. Investigators later said that the attack was allegedly orchestrated by Harpreet Singh from the US, who instructed the accused to conduct reconnaissance of the target location before executing the grenade strike.
With the latest court order, the NIA is expected to make further progress in unravelling the broader conspiracy behind the grenade attack.
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