Dr Hayat Zafar, the ex-husband of Dr Shaheen Shahid, one of the suspects arrested in connection with the Delhi blast case, has denied any knowledge of her alleged links with terror outfits. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Zafar said he and Shaheen had lived a peaceful life during their marriage and that he was shocked to learn about her alleged involvement in extremist activities.

‘We had a peaceful marriage,’ says Dr Zafar

“We were married and were living peacefully. We had two children. There was no problem of any kind. I had no information that she had any connection with terrorists,” said Dr Zafar. “We were married nine years ago and got divorced because she wanted to go abroad. I told her that we could live well here since our relatives are around. Going abroad would only cause problems,” he added.

Officials confirmed that Dr Shaheen Shahid, believed to be in her mid-30s, was earlier married to Zafar, a resident of Maharashtra. The couple separated in 2015, after which she moved to Haryana and began teaching at Al-Falah University in Faridabad. It was reportedly during her tenure there that she came into contact with radical elements linked to terror groups.

Doctor among those arrested in Faridabad module

Shaheen was among eight individuals, including three doctors, arrested after the recovery of nearly 2,900 kg of explosives from a location in Faridabad. Investigators allege the cache was intended for a series of coordinated terror strikes across Delhi and nearby regions.

According to officials, Shaheen is suspected of being connected to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, two Pakistan-based terror groups. Intelligence sources also claim she played a role in JeM’s newly formed women’s recruitment wing, known as Jamaat-ul-Mominaat, launched last month.

Links to Pakistan handlers

Preliminary investigations suggest that Shaheen was in touch with handlers in Pakistan and may have been assigned the task of recruiting women for logistics and propaganda operations within India. “Evidence indicates that she was part of online communication groups run by JeM operatives. We are verifying digital data to determine the extent of her involvement,” an official said.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has now taken over the probe, given the gravity and cross-border nature of the case. Forensic experts are examining digital devices and documents seized during the arrests.

Raids in Lucknow after arrest

Following Shaheen’s arrest, joint teams from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) carried out raids in Lucknow — at a house in Madion, on the city’s outskirts, and another in Kandhari Bazaar, Lalbagh. Police confirmed that the Lalbagh property belongs to Shaheen, while her brother Dr Parvez Ansari resides in the Madion house.

During the searches, officials recovered digital devices, documents, a car and a motorcycle, all of which have been sent for forensic analysis. Police sources said that while no explosives were found, the seized material could provide clues about the wider network.

Family shocked by allegations

In Lucknow, Shaheen’s father expressed disbelief at the news of her arrest. “Officials searched our entire house but found nothing objectionable. My daughter spoke to me a month ago and said she was disturbed due to family issues. I cannot believe she is involved in terrorism,” he told reporters.

Shaheen’s brother Mohammad Shoaib said the family had been living separately for years and was cooperating fully with investigators. “They had separated long ago and were living elsewhere. We have faith in the authorities,” he said.

Neighbours in the locality also described the family as quiet, educated and law-abiding, saying they were stunned by the allegations. “We have known them for years. The family has never been in trouble with the law. Everyone here is shocked,” a local resident said.

NIA probe expands

Officials said the NIA is now mapping Shaheen’s contacts and social media communications to uncover any international links or funding sources. The agency believes that the explosives recovered from Faridabad are chemically identical to those used in the recent Delhi Red Fort car blast, strengthening the link between the two cases.

Security agencies are now focusing on identifying the urban radicalisation network that allegedly connects professionals — including doctors, engineers and academics — with extremist organisations.