By A surgeon from Pathankot, previously employed at Haryana’s controversial Al-Falah University, has been detained in connection with the Red Fort blast case. Dr. Rayees Ahmad Bhat was taken into custody after investigators discovered he was allegedly in contact with Dr. Umar Nabi, the prime accused who detonated an explosive-laden car near Delhi’s Red Fort.
Currently associated with White Medical College in Pathankot, the 45-year-old surgeon had worked at Al-Falah University in Faridabad between 2020 and 2021—the same institution where Dr Umar was based. Investigators also found that Dr Bhat continued to communicate regularly with staff at the university even after leaving.
According to sources, Dr Bhat has been detained to “establish facts” and to determine whether he played a role in a suspected “white-collar” terror module reportedly backed by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.
Wave of Arrests as Probe Expands
In addition to Dr Bhat, another doctor and an MBBS student from Al-Falah University—both acquainted with Dr Umar—were detained on Friday during raids conducted by the Delhi Police Special Cell and central agencies in Haryana’s Dhauj and Nuh.
Among those questioned were Dr Mustaqeem, a China-trained MBBS graduate, and Mohammad, who admitted to knowing Dr Umar. Earlier this week, another doctor, Rihan, an alumnus of Al-Falah Medical College, was also arrested.
The arrests come as Delhi Police and the NIA intensify their investigation into the Red Fort blast. The probe took a significant turn after authorities recovered a massive cache of arms and explosives—including 2,900 kg of IED-making material—from the rented premises of Dr Muzammil Shakeel, another doctor associated with Al-Falah. Shakeel has since been arrested.
Shortly after, investigators arrested his colleague, Dr Shaheen Shahid, who is believed to have been tasked with establishing the women’s wing of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed in India.
The unravelling of what authorities describe as a “white-collar” terror network has placed Al-Falah University and Hospital under intense scrutiny. With multiple doctors arrested and several staff members questioned, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also initiated a probe into the institution’s funding.
