New Delhi/Pathankot (Gurpreet Singh): The probe into the recent blast in Delhi expanded on Tuesday with investigators detaining a senior surgeon from Punjab’s Pathankot region for detailed questioning, officials close to the development disclosed. The move is part of the National Investigation Agency’s growing efforts to map every connection surrounding the prime accused.
The doctor, identified by investigation sources as 45-year-old Dr. Rayees Ahmad Bhat, was taken in after teams arrived at the private medical college where he serves as a faculty member. Witnesses said the questioning team conducted preliminary inquiries on-site before escorting him away for further examination.
Officials are revisiting his professional history, particularly his stint at Al-Falah University in Faridabad during 2020–21. According to sources, investigators retrieved communication records suggesting routine contact between Dr. Bhat and several employees currently working at the institution. These exchanges are being scrutinized to assess whether they hold any relevance to the blast case.
Additionally, the agency is checking his reported links to Dr. Umar Nabi, viewed as the central figure in the investigation. Officers are currently analyzing how frequent their interactions were and whether any of those exchanges overlap with the timeline of the incident.
Authorities emphasized that the surgeon is being questioned as part of the fact-finding process and has not been formally charged. “We are exploring every possible angle. His statements will help clarify certain connections,” an official familiar with the inquiry said.
The NIA is expected to continue examining digital data and call traces over the week as it attempts to establish a clearer chain of events. More individuals may be summoned as the investigation widens.
