NIA arrests renowned anesthesiologist in Pune for alleged links to Maharashtra ISIS module

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested Dr. Adnan Ali Sarkar, a renowned anesthesiologist working with a top hospital in Pune, from his home in Kondhwa, a suburb of Pune.

In a statement, the NIA said it recovered several incriminating materials from him, such as electronic devices and several documents related to the Islamic State.

Dr. Sarkar is the fifth suspect arrested in the Maharashtra ISIS module case. With 16 years of experience in the field of anesthesia, he is said to be the co-author of 18 publications in his field.

The other four are Tabish Nasser Siddiqui from Mumbai, Zubair Noor Mohammed Shaikh alias Abu Nusaiba from Pune and Sharjeel Shaikh and Zulfikar Ali Barodawala from Thane.

Arrested on July 3, they are accused of preparing a plot for further IS terrorist activities in India.

The NIA alleged that Sarkar was trying to disrupt the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of the country and wage war against the Government of India. It is said to be part of the "Maharashtra IS Module". 

The NIA claimed to have destroyed the IS model in Maharashtra.