The Odisha Police Special Task Force (STF) on Saturday arrested a 37-year-old Kashmiri man, accused of duping individuals while masquerading as both a PMO (Prime Minister's Office) official and an Army doctor. The individual, identified as Sayed Ishaan Bukhari, also has alleged connections with individuals in Pakistan and suspicious entities in Kerala. Moreover, the accused has reportedly entered into multiple marriages with women in various states, news agency PTI reported.
As per the report, acting on a tip-off, the STF arrested Bukhari, also known as Dr Ishaan Bukhari, in Neulpur village in Jajpur district on Friday.
STF IG JN Pankaj disclosed that the accused was discovered impersonating a Neuro Specialist, an Army Doctor, a PMO officer, and a close associate of high-ranking NIA officials. The authorities seized numerous forged documents, including medical degree certificates purportedly issued by institutions such as Cornell University of the USA and the Canadian Health Services Institute, the report said.
Additionally, the police confiscated several affidavits, bonds, ATM cards, blank cheques, Aadhaar cards, and visiting cards from Bukhari, a native of Kupwara district in Jammu & Kashmir. Pankaj revealed that the accused had contracted marriages with at least 6-7 women from various parts of India, including Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha.
Briefing media about the arrest, Inspector General STF Odisha, JP Pankaj said: "Special Task Force Odisha had received information that a suspicious man has been living here and his activities were suspicious. Our team raided with independent witnesses. We received more than 100 forged documents- false documents, and fake medical university certificates. We came to know that he is a big impersonator. He belonged to Kashmir. There is another case registered against him. I think his warrant is also pending. He was in communication with suspicious elements in Kerala & Pakistan," ANI quoted him as saying.
Operating under the guise of a doctor with purported international qualifications, Bukhari maintained romantic relationships with multiple women, according to the police official. Pankaj mentioned that the accused is likely wanted by Kashmir Police for a case involving cheating and forgery, with a pending non-bailable warrant against him.
While the accused was allegedly in contact with several Pakistani nationals and suspicious individuals in Kerala, Pankaj clarified that the STF found no links to the ISI. A joint team of police from Punjab, Kashmir, and Odisha will question Bukhari further, PTI report said.