UP ATS arrests 3 for crowdfunding scam for Gaza war victims

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh has arrested three individuals, Mohammad Ayaan, Zaid Notiyar, and Abu Sufiyan, for allegedly orchestrating a large-scale crowdfunding scam under the pretext of raising funds for Gaza war victims.

The trio was apprehended from Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, on Saturday, following the issuance of non-bailable warrants by a competent court.

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According to official sources, UP ATS received credible intelligence that certain individuals were exploiting public emotions by circulating heart-wrenching content related to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including images and videos of affected women and children, through Instagram and WhatsApp groups. These emotional appeals were used to gather massive funds from across Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India, ostensibly for providing food, water, clothing, and medical aid to the victims.

However, during the course of the investigation, ATS officials discovered that a significant portion of the funds collected through personal and crowdfunding channels never reached the intended beneficiaries. Instead, the money, which ran into crores of rupees, was allegedly siphoned off and used for unauthorised and potentially unlawful activities by the accused.

The accused reportedly used their personal UPI IDs and bank accounts to receive donations. People from various districts in Uttar Pradesh were found to have contributed substantial sums, unaware of the fraudulent intentions behind the campaign.

A case has been registered under FIR No. 10/2025 at the ATS Police Station in Lucknow, invoking sections 152, 318(4), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The arrested individuals will be brought to Lucknow on transit remand after being presented before the appropriate court in Mumbai. The UP ATS plans to seek police remand for detailed interrogation and further investigation into the suspicious use and potential laundering of the embezzled funds.

Officials stated that the ATS is conducting an in-depth probe to uncover the full extent of the financial misappropriation and to determine whether the funds were used for any anti-national or criminal activities.