Bhubaneswar: The special task force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch has obtained a five-day remand for Sayed Ishaan Bukhari, the Kashmiri man accused of impersonating a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) official and marrying multiple women. The suspect was arrested from his rented residence in Neulapur, Jajpur district, on Saturday.
The Odisha police had sought a seven-day custody for Bukhari, who is under investigation for his alleged involvement in posing as an Army doctor-cum-neurologist and a close associate of high-ranking NIA officials. The court of judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) at Chandikhole in Jajpur district granted a five-day police remand for further questioning.
Bukhari, hailing from Handwara in J&K’s Kupwara district, is suspected of having links to terror activities. Despite studying only until Class XII, he purportedly prescribed medications to individuals based on internet searches. The fraudster possessed forged medical degree certificates from reputed institutions such as Cornell University in the USA, Canadian Health Services Institute, and Christian Medical College, Vellore.
While his WhatsApp chats revealed that Bukhari provided medical advice over the phone, addressing neurological issues, lifestyle diseases, blood pressure, and migraines, the STF denied any indication of him running a clinic in Odisha.
During the raid on his rented premises, authorities seized counterfeit documents, including affidavits, bonds, ATM cards, blank cheques, Aadhaar cards, and visiting cards. Bukhari, who had married at least 6-7 women from various states, including Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha, allegedly engaged in romantic relationships with multiple women by presenting himself as a foreign-educated doctor.
Residing in Jajpur since 2018 after marrying a local teacher, Bukhari faces allegations of being in contact with suspicious individuals in Kerala and some Pakistani nationals. The investigation has unveiled his connection to a case of cheating and forgery, leading Kashmir Police to issue a non-bailable warrant against him.
As the STF delves deeper into the intricate web of deceit surrounding Bukhari, more details are anticipated to emerge, shedding light on the extent of his activities and potential implications.
