Nagpur: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has detained a suspect in connection with the recovery of an improvised explosive device (IED) from a hospital in Pune, officials said on Friday. The accused was intercepted at Pulgaon Railway Station in Wardha district while allegedly travelling towards Nagpur aboard the Shalimar Express.

According to officials, the accused has been identified as Shivaji Rathod, a resident of Pune’s Manjari area. He was taken into custody by the Nagpur ATS in a joint operation conducted along with the Pune ATS.

Police sources said the accused was travelling on Train No. 18029 Shalimar Express towards Nagpur when ATS teams tracked him down and detained him at Pulgaon Railway Station. He was later brought to Nagpur Railway Station for further investigation.

The arrest comes days after a suspicious device containing low-grade explosives was discovered inside the washroom of Usha Kiran Hospital in Hadapsar area of Pune on Wednesday evening. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) safely disposed of the device without any damage or injuries.

During the investigation, ATS officials reportedly recovered an empty timer box, believed to have been used in the IED, from the accused’s shop. Investigators are now questioning Rathod to determine whether others were involved in the conspiracy.

A joint probe is currently being conducted by the Pune Police, Crime Branch, and Maharashtra ATS to trace the source of the explosives and examine possible links behind the incident.