MUMBAI, India – Members of the banned terror group Indian Mujahideen (IM) have spent money intended for terrorist activities for their own personal use, The Times of India reported Monday (July 16th).

Qateel Siddiqui, who was murdered in Yerwarda jail in Pune on June 8th, spent Rs100, 000 ($1,800) on two girls, the paper said, citing an officer in the state's anti-terrorism squad (ATS). The money had been earmarked by IM for recruitment.

Siddiqui was alleged to be involved in the 2011 Delhi Jama Masjid firing case and the 2010 Chinnaswamy stadium blast.

"Siddiqui told us [during questioning] that he was not interested in following IM's ideology but was more interested in getting funds for his personal use. He had even opposed several programmes of IM," the officer said.

IM chief Yasin Bhatkal, alias Shahrukh, allegedly used the organisation's money to build his business as a property developer, several arrested terrorists told the ATS. According to The Times, Bhatkal – who oversees all its activities in India – used Rs.1,400,000 ($25,300) of IM funds to invest in a construction project.

"The top functionaries are bothered only about operations. The money does not come out of their pockets and hence they do not care to keep tabs on it," the officer told the paper.