Cops gauge terror suspect Peerbhoy’s hacking skills

In the last few days,the police have taken Peerbhoy to various institutions,including a prominent academic centre,to gauge how adept he is at hacking into Wi-Fi networks. “He is an expert,” a senior officer said,“and he showed us how he had repeatedly managed to hack into personal Internet domains.”

The Special Cell’s main aim is to evaluate the cyber proficiency of the IM,and also to secure the city’s vulnerable networks from being misused by militants.

Sources in the Cell said Peerbhoy was in close communication with Riyaz Bhatkal,the alleged co-founder of Indian Mujahideen who reportedly led and sponsored a string of serial blasts across the country.

It is learnt that the police have already grilled Peerbhoy to learn more about his contacts in Delhi. Officers said he will be shown pictures of all those named in the chargesheet filed for the Delhi blasts. Officers believe Peerbhoy might have funded Atif Amin,the alleged mastermind behind the Delhi blasts,and his associates who stayed on to execute the crime. An officer said: “Atif had received funds from an Uttar Pradesh trader called Muhammad Hakim. This man is absconding. We are trying to find out if Peerbhoy knew Hakim.”

Police officers said a chargesheet against Peerbhoy and one Mobin Kader Sheikh — remanded in the Special Cell’s custody since Tuesday — will be drawn up soon. They will be booked with the same offences the other accused have been charged with: murder,attempt to murder,and waging war against the nation. In addition,provisions in the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act will also be slapped on the duo.

Peerbhoy is a former,high-salaried employee of an Internet company. He was arrested along with Mobin Kader Sheikh and Asif Bashruddin Shaikh by the anti-terror cell of the Mumbai Police on October 6,2008. He is accused of being an active member of the media unit of the Indian Mujahideen.

Peerbhoy has two elder siblings — a cardiac specialist based in UK,and the other an architect.