Red Fort Blast case: Kerala Cardiologist misidentified in media coverage

Kanpur: A first-year Doctor of Medicine (Cardiology) medico from the state-run Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial (GSVM) Medical College, Kanpur, was recently detained by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) during the investigation into the Delhi Red Fort blast case. However, a controversy erupted after several media channels mistakenly used the photo of another doctor with the same name who lives in Kerala, portraying him as the accused doctor.

As per a PTI news agency report, the accused doctor is a first-year postgraduate student in the Doctor of Medicine (Cardiology) programme, while the doctor whose picture was wrongly circulated is a consultant interventional cardiologist from Calicut, Kerala.

Issuing a strong clarification in this regard, the Kerala-based doctor said that several national television channels reported about an accused named Dr. ***, but used his photograph in their coverage.

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He stated that he has no connection with the incident or anyone involved, calling the use of his image “false,” “misleading,” and “defamatory.” He added that the mistake has caused him significant mental distress and reputational harm.

According to a senior official quoted by PTI, the accused 32-year-old PG medico was taken into custody from an undisclosed location. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) team searched his rented accommodation at Ashok Nagar in Nazirabad, seized his mobile phone and laptop for forensic examination, and took him to Delhi for questioning. "He is likely to be confronted with those already arrested in the case," the official added.

Medical Dialogues had reported that the PG student, a native of Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir, came under the ATS radar following disclosures made during the interrogation of former GSVM professor Dr ***, who had earlier been arrested in the same case. Investigators suspect that the accused student was in regular contact with the doctor who confessed to him and her brother, both of whom have been questioned extensively.

Sources said that on the day of the explosion near Delhi's Red Fort, the student was in telephonic contact with individuals allegedly linked to the doctor's network. He had also visited Jammu and Kashmir recently, which raised further suspicion. When ATS personnel reached his residence, he allegedly attempted to delete data from his phone, but officials seized the device in time.

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