November 13, 2025

KANPUR — The investigation into the recent Delhi blast and the larger terror network connected to it has expanded beyond the capital. A senior resident cardiologist from Kanpur’s Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial (GSVM) Medical College, Dr. Mohammad Arif, was detained late Wednesday night by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for questioning over alleged links to an active terror module operating across northern India.

According to officials familiar with the investigation, Dr. Arif’s name surfaced during a detailed examination of the phone records of Dr. Shaheen Saeed, a Lucknow-based doctor who was arrested on November 9 in connection with the Faridabad terror module case. Dr. Saeed, 43, is a former medical lecturer accused of being part of a network that investigators say spanned Kashmir, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

How the Name Emerged

During the interrogation of Dr. Saeed and forensic analysis of her communication data, investigators reportedly found evidence of frequent and extended contact between her and Dr. Arif. “The two had been in regular touch for several months,” said an officer from the investigating team. “The nature of their communication and the timing of their exchanges led us to believe that Arif might have had knowledge of or indirect involvement in the network under investigation.”

Following these leads, a joint team of the ATS and NIA conducted a raid at Dr. Arif’s rented flat in Kanpur’s Ashok Nagar area late Wednesday. The operation was carried out quietly, without alerting the neighbourhood. According to officials, he was detained for questioning and taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

Devices Seized and Landlord Questioned

“Acting on intelligence inputs, the ATS raided his premises and detained him for questioning,” said a senior officer. “All his electronic devices — including his phone, laptop, and external drives — have been seized for forensic examination. Investigators will analyze these to trace digital communication, document exchanges, and any potential encrypted messaging activity.”

The officer further added that the landlord was also questioned, and the rent agreement and identity verification documents were reviewed. Police sources said nothing incriminating had been found at the residence so far, but a detailed forensic review is underway.

Medical College in Shock

The news of the detention has sent shockwaves through GSVM Medical College, one of the leading government medical institutions in Uttar Pradesh. Colleagues and faculty members expressed disbelief at the allegations.

Dr. Umeshwar Pandey, head of the cardiology department, confirmed the detention. “We only came to know that the ATS had taken Dr. Arif for questioning. Beyond that, we have no information,” he said.

Dr. Arif, according to Dr. Pandey, joined the department as a first-year resident doctor earlier this year after completing his MBBS and MD. Due to a shortage of on-campus accommodation, he was among several junior residents who were living in rented flats outside the medical college.

“He was a quiet, hardworking person,” said a faculty member on condition of anonymity. “We never heard him discuss politics or religion. His focus was always on his clinical work. The news that he is being questioned for terror links is deeply unsettling.”

Academic Background and Training

Officials revealed that Dr. Mohammad Arif hails from Jammu and Kashmir and completed his undergraduate medical degree at the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala. He later pursued a postgraduate degree in internal medicine before securing a place in the NEET-SS 2024 batch for advanced training in interventional cardiology at GSVM Medical College.

“He was undergoing advanced cardiology training for the past four months,” said an officer. “He is qualified and skilled, which makes the allegations against him even more concerning. We are investigating whether his background or past connections in Kashmir have any bearing on the case.”

Links to the Faridabad Module

Investigators say Dr. Arif’s detention is part of the same probe that led to the arrest of Dr. Shaheen Saeed and Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaia, two individuals believed to be central to the Faridabad module, a suspected network coordinating logistics, communication, and funding for terror-linked operations.

According to the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad, Dr. Shaheen had been living in Faridabad with Dr. Ganaia, who is one of the key accused in the network. Officials allege that the two were not only in a close personal relationship but also collaborated in activities under investigation for their possible connection to a wider terror financing and recruitment chain.

The ATS believes that several individuals linked to medical institutions may have been used as frontline operatives — people with unremarkable professional backgrounds who could move freely and communicate discreetly without drawing attention. Investigators are trying to determine whether Dr. Arif’s connection to Dr. Shaheen was purely professional or extended into this alleged network.

A Pattern of Emerging Medical Links

The arrests of medical professionals have drawn particular attention because of the specialized skill sets and mobility such individuals possess. “Highly educated individuals with medical or technical backgrounds can play strategic roles — not necessarily in field operations, but in coordination, logistics, or technical support,” explained a counterterrorism expert.

Sources in the investigating team said Dr. Arif’s digital communications and financial transactions are now under scrutiny. “We are looking for any encrypted messages, suspicious fund transfers, or unexplained digital activity. We cannot confirm his involvement until the analysis is complete,” said an officer.

Official Silence and Media Scrutiny

While both the ATS and NIA have confirmed the detention, neither agency has formally declared Dr. Arif’s arrest. A senior official emphasized that detention for questioning does not automatically imply guilt. “At this stage, he is being questioned to understand the nature of his connection to Dr. Shaheen and others in the network,” the officer said. “If we find evidence of complicity, appropriate legal action will follow.”

Meanwhile, local police have been instructed to maintain security around GSVM College and Dr. Arif’s residence to avoid any disturbances. Students and residents have been cautioned against spreading rumors on social media.

The Wider Investigation Context

The Faridabad module case came to light after a series of coordinated raids in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh following intelligence inputs linking a group of individuals to recent terror-related activities, including the explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort. While officials have not yet confirmed a direct link between that blast and the Faridabad network, both investigations are being pursued jointly under the supervision of the NIA.

Over the past week, investigators have questioned multiple suspects across Delhi and northern India. Forensic and digital evidence from recovered phones, laptops, and SIM cards are being analyzed to establish a pattern of communication among the accused.

What Lies Ahead

As of Thursday morning, Dr. Mohammad Arif remains in custody for questioning. His family and legal representatives have not been allowed direct access, and his professional duties at GSVM Medical College have been placed on indefinite hold pending the outcome of the investigation.

Officials close to the case caution that the probe is still in its early stages. “We are following every digital footprint, every financial transaction, and every contact,” said one NIA officer. “Only after verifying all leads will we be in a position to determine whether Dr. Arif’s interactions were coincidental or deliberate.”

For now, the detention of a young cardiologist — a man trained to save lives — in connection with one of the year’s most disturbing terror investigations has added a new and unsettling dimension to the unfolding story of the Red Fort blast and the network allegedly operating beneath its surface.

As investigators continue to map out the connections between Faridabad, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Delhi, the case underscores the growing complexity of terror probes in a digital age — where encrypted communication, professional cover, and mobility can blur the lines between ordinary life and covert intent.