Woman With Fake IAS Identity Arrested in Maharashtra: Possible Links to Delhi Red Fort Blast Investigation

Mumbai:

In Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), Maharashtra, authorities are investigating a woman for potential connections to the recent explosion near Delhi's Red Fort. Police have informed a court that this woman, who was masquerading as an IAS officer, maintained connections with Pakistan's military and individuals in Afghanistan.

The woman was taken into custody at the luxury hotel where she had been residing.

According to police, the suspect—who identifies herself as Kalpana Bhagwat—was in Delhi when the bombing occurred.

During today's remand hearing, police revealed that while she had been staying at the hotel for six months, she was present in Delhi at the time of the explosions.

Investigators will focus on assessing whether she poses a threat to national security, and her possible involvement in the Delhi bombing will be thoroughly investigated, police stated when requesting her remand.

A search of her hotel room uncovered a counterfeit IAS appointment letter dated 2017, along with discrepancies in her Aadhaar card.

Initial investigations have revealed that substantial funds were transferred to her bank account from accounts belonging to her boyfriend, Ashraf Khalil, who is in Afghanistan, and his brother Aved Khalil, who resides in Pakistan, according to sources.

Police recovered checks for Rs 19 crore and Rs 6 lakh from her room.

Authorities informed the court that the woman possessed 10 international phone numbers, some with connections to Afghanistan and Peshawar.

Numbers belonging to Pakistani military officers—including contacts for the Peshawar Army Cantonment Board and the Afghanistan Embassy office—were discovered, the court was told. A contact saved as 'Home Minister OSD' was also found.

Police reported that WhatsApp conversations with someone in Pakistan had been deleted from her device.

Intelligence Bureau officials have been interrogating the woman for three days. Though documents identify her as Kalpana Bhagwat, investigations to confirm her true identity are ongoing, police said.

The Sambhajinagar court has placed the woman in police custody for 10 days.

The Delhi Blast

Seven individuals have been arrested in relation to the explosion near Red Fort that killed 15 people and injured more than 12.

Investigators have determined that the blast in a Hyundai i20 car was planned and executed by well-educated terrorists.

The primary suspects have been identified as Muzammil Shakeel Ganai, Adeel Ahmed Rather and his brother Muzaffar Ahmed Rather—Kashmiri doctors who worked at Al-Falah University—and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay, also from Kashmir.

The vehicle was driven by Umar-un-Nabi, another Kashmiri doctor.

(With inputs from Mohsin Sheikh)