Red Fort blast | ‘Never suspected him of any terror involvement’: Shock, disbelief at Saharanpur hospital after doctor’s arrest

At the Famous Hospital, Dr Adeel’s colleagues recall being invited to his wedding for which he had left on September 26.

“We never suspected him of any involvement in any terror organisation. He came across as a friendly doctor and always met everyone with compassion and love,” said a staff member, requesting anonymity.

Dr Adeel came back from his wedding break on November 1. A week later, he informed the hospital’s Resident Medical Officer, Dr Danish, that he would be leaving for Kashmir again.

“Danish sir told us that we need to look for another doctor as he had a feeling Dr Adeel was not going to come back,” said a hospital staff requesting anonymity.

Manoj Mishra, the head of the operations of the hospital, said, “Our relationship was purely professional and I was not invited to his wedding.” Mishra claimed that the operational rights of the hospital have been with him since 2022. “I had hired him. He earlier worked at V-BROS hospital as a consultant,” Mishra added.

Situated in the main market area of Saharanpur, Famous hospital is a ground plus two-storey glass and concrete structure flanked by shops and establishments of all hues – a liquor store, a dhaba, a tattoo parlour, and grocery stores. Shortly after being built by a local businessman in 2022, it was leased out to the current management. The hospital boasts of four doctors: A urologist, a gynaecologist, a surgeon and an MD Medicine – the position occupied by Dr Adeel.

Talking about his hiring, an official said, “We offered him a better pay and he joined us. He was a good doctor.”

Aslam Zaidi, the administrative incharge of Famous Hospital, said Dr Adeel’s medical documents were verified. “For us, he was a very good doctor and was hired after due diligence,” said Zaidi.

Superintendent of Police (SP), Saharanpur City, Vyom Bindal told The Indian Express that a delegation of J&K police had come to Saharanpur district on November 7 to find Dr Adeel and had sought the local police’s cooperation.

Dr Babar, Dr Adeel’s colleague and one of the people who attended his wedding, said he did not sense anything unusual on the occasion. “He was my colleague. So when he invited me, I went to Kashmir and attended his wedding,” Dr Babar told The Indian Express.

Nearly 2.5kms away from the hospital is Aman Vihar where Dr Adeel stayed alone in a single-storeyed house. Most of the residents of the area claimed he barely interacted with him. Nafees Ahmad, a resident, said, “Since he was not staying with his family, we never met or spoke to him.”

At V-BROS Hospital, the administrative incharge said, “He had joined us on November 24, 2024, at a salary of Rs 3 lakh but when he was offered a better pay somewhere else, he left.”

SP, Saharanpur district, Ashish Tiwari said drives for tenant verification are conducted in the city on a regular basis. On being asked if there was ever a request for Dr Adeel’s verification, he responded in the negative. “We have been cooperating with the J&K police in the investigation,” Tiwari said.