NIA Alleges Larger Conspiracy in Malappuram Explosives Case, Court Rejects Anticipatory Bail
KOCHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has informed a special court in Kochi that it is investigating a larger criminal conspiracy linked to the massive seizure of explosives in Kerala’s Malappuram district earlier this year, indicating that the case extends beyond the initial arrests.
The agency told the court that its probe has uncovered possible links involving a firm based in Talikoti in Karnataka’s Vijayapura (Bijapur) district.
The case stems from the seizure of 89,600 gelatin sticks and 1.05 lakh non-electric detonators concealed in a lorry transporting onion sacks at Tirurangadi in Malappuram on February 7, 2026. The large cache of explosives prompted the NIA to take over the investigation.
As part of the ongoing probe, Mantagound Biradar (35) of Bijapur and Bapagoud Bheeramaya Choudri (47) of Talikoti, Karnataka, approached the NIA special court in Kochi seeking anticipatory bail after the agency initiated steps to question them in connection with the case.
Opposing their pleas, the NIA argued that the investigation is at a crucial stage and involves a broader conspiracy, making custodial interrogation necessary to establish the full scope of the alleged network.
