Mumbai, June 28 (UNI) The Mumbai Crime Branch's investigation into the IIT Powai trespassing case has raised concerns over negligence on the part of the institute’s security team and exposed serious lapses in campus security.
The case involved the arrest of a resident of Mangaluru, Karnataka, for illegally staying in the hostel and attending lectures at IIT Mumbai, which is the premier technological institute in India and one of the leading universities in the world.
A man identified as Bilal Ahmed Fayaz Ahmed Teli has allegedly conducted reconnaissance activities within the institute and has illegally stayed inside IIT Powai for 14 days, moving freely in and out of the premises nearly 8-10 times without being detected by the security personnel.
Police have found imo and Signal apps, both messaging and calling platforms, on Bilal’s mobile phone.
Crime Branch officials have retrieved critical CCTV footage and other electronic evidence showing the accused entering and exiting the campus multiple times over the two-week period.
The investigation has raised concerns over negligence on the part of the institute’s security team.
Sources said Bilal would sleep at various locations on campus, including couches in hostel lobbies and mattresses in vacant rooms, changing his sleeping spot daily.
Based on his interrogation, the Crime Branch has mapped his entry routes and movement across the campus.
A senior official confirmed that a detailed map has been prepared to assist further investigation. However, the motive behind his extended stay and surveillance remains unclear.
Crime Branch sources further revealed that Bilal uploaded videos of IIT Powai’s internal areas on social media platforms using a VPN. Forensic analysis of his mobile phone has uncovered several such videos. Investigators are working to determine the purpose behind these uploads.
Between June 7 and 10, Bilal reportedly travelled from Mumbai to Surat, claiming he visited relatives.
The Crime Branch is currently verifying this claim. Investigators have also found that Bilal was operating at least 21 email IDs.
Given the sensitive nature of the case, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have now joined the investigation and are conducting separate interrogations of the accused. A senior officer indicated that several pieces of evidence point toward suspicious activities.
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