Odisha Police To Take Kashmiri Conman With Suspected Terror Link On 5-Day Remand From Today

Bhubaneswar: The special task force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch will be taking Sayed Ishaan Bukhari, the Kashmiri man who impersonated PMO official and married 6-7 women, on five-day remand from Tuesday.

Odisha police had sought seven-day custody of Bukhari with suspected terror links on Monday for his interrogation following his arrest from his rented house at Neulapur in Jajpur district on Saturday for allegedly posing as an Army doctor-cum-neurologist, an official in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), and a close associate of high-ranking NIA officials.

The court of judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) at Chandikhole in Jajpur district, however, granted five-day police remand of Bukhari, who is lodged at Ragadi jail in Jajpur.

According to sources, the fraudster, hailing from Handwara in J&K’s Kupwara district, actually studied till Class XII but prescribed medicines to some patients after an internet search. Forged medical degree certificates issued by Cornell University in USA, Canadian Health Services Institute and Christian Medical College, Vellore, were seized during the raid.

While Bukhari wrote medicines for his acquaintances, who sought medical advice from him related to neurological issues, lifestyle diseases, blood pressure and migraine over the phone, as was revealed through his WhatsApp chats, the STF denied that he was running any clinic in Odisha.

Additionally, police had seized a cache of fake affidavits, bonds, ATM cards, blank cheques, Aadhaar cards, and visiting cards from his rented premises. While he had married at least 6-7 women from various parts of India including Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha, he was also allegedly in a romantic relationship with multiple women by identifying himself as a doctor with foreign medical degrees. He had been staying in Jajpur since 2018 after marrying a woman who is reportedly a teacher by profession,.

During the investigation, the probe agency found that Bukhari was in touch with suspicious persons in Kerala and some Pakistani nationals. The accused was also wanted by Kashmir Police in relation to a case of cheating and forgery and one non-bailable warrant is also pending against him, sources added.