Lucknow: The elder brother of Shaheen Sayeed, a doctor recently arrested for alleged connections to terrorism, expressed his disbelief regarding her supposed involvement in illegal activities. He stated that the family is struggling to comprehend the situation.

Shaheen's ex-husband shared that during their marriage, she never wore a burqa and was a devoted mother who aspired to move abroad for a better future.

In an interview in Lucknow, following a deadly blast near Delhi's Red Fort that resulted in 12 fatalities and around 20 injuries, her brother Mohammad Shoaib mentioned that law enforcement officials treated their family with dignity during their inquiries.

Shoaib noted that the police conducted a respectful search of their home and asked questions in a calm manner, without any coercion. They were primarily interested in when Shaheen had last visited them.

He revealed that he and Shaheen had not communicated for the past four years, although their parents occasionally checked on her.

Shoaib expressed concern for his sister, stating that it is natural for family members to worry about each other.

When questioned about visiting her home near IIM Road in Lucknow, he admitted he had never been there and was unaware of its exact location.

He firmly denied any suspicions regarding her activities, asserting that throughout her medical studies, there were no indications of her involvement in anything dubious. He reiterated his disbelief regarding the allegations.

Meanwhile, Dr. Zafar Hayat, Shaheen's former husband, revealed that he only learned of her alleged involvement in the case recently.

Hayat, who married Shaheen in November 2003, stated that they pursued their medical studies separately and divorced in late 2012. He expressed confusion over her current situation, emphasizing that there were no disputes during their marriage.

He mentioned that they had not been in contact since their divorce and had no reason to suspect her of any wrongdoing. Hayat described Shaheen as a caring individual who was deeply devoted to her family and children.

He recalled that Shaheen only wore a burqa during their wedding and had never shown any inclination towards extremist activities. He mentioned a past conversation where she expressed a desire to relocate to Australia or Europe for better opportunities, but he had preferred to stay in their current life.

Investigators have linked Shaheen to Dr. Muzammil Ganaie, another faculty member at Al-Falah University, who is suspected of being part of a terror module associated with banned groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.

Authorities revealed that this module, which spans across Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, was uncovered following the seizure of 2,900 kilograms of explosives and the arrest of eight individuals, including three doctors from Al-Falah University. Reports suggest that Shaheen was leading the women's recruitment wing of Jaish-e-Mohammed in India.

On Tuesday, her father, Syed Ahmad Ansari, expressed his shock at the allegations, stating that he had spoken to Shaheen about a month ago and had never heard her mention Dr. Muzammil or any related activities.

The investigation into the Red Fort explosion, attributed to a high-intensity explosive device, is being conducted by the National Investigation Agency, with support from police in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.