Imtiyaz Khatri Threat Case: Court Rejects Mumbai Crime Branch’s Plea For Police Custody, Remands Accused In Judicial Custody Until October 29

On October 15, 2026, an Esplanade court rejected the Mumbai Crime Branch (MCB) plea for extended police custody of Mohammed Shafique Mohammed Akbar Lon, 39, accused in a threat case against businessman Imtiyaz Khatri. The court remanded Lon in judicial custody until October 29. The investigation also revealed a previous arms recovery case in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014, where Shafique and his brother Azam were arrested, but Azam was later charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The police found significant leads regarding Lon's alleged connections with Pakistan and terrorist organizations, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). According to the prosecution, the Pakistani mobile number used in the threat was connected to the LeT headquarters in Muzaffarabad. Lon allegedly formatted his phone every 15 days to erase suspicious activities and chats.

The defense argued that the grounds for further custody had already been investigated and that no new evidence justified another period of police custody. The court noted that the earlier investigation had already considered the allegations surrounding the Pakistani mobile number, suspected terrorist links, and the potential for creating communal strife.