Former premier Ewart Brown has likened the continued investigation of Mahesh Reddy, chief medical officer at his business Bermuda Healthcare Services, to a state of war.

“This is a legal matter; it has to be handled carefully,” Dr Brown said, telling the press that police are “now questioning whether Dr Reddy is really a doctor”, and examining his credentials.

Dr Brown called it “ridiculous” that after 16 years’ service and thousands of patients tended, Dr Reddy’s qualifications would be subject to question.

“However, this is the nature of war,” Dr Brown concluded.

Little has emerged of what police described as “a financial investigation” after Dr Reddy was arrested and questioned in May.

Dr Brown has characterised the moves as politically motivated harassment — challenging authorities to either “put up or shut up”.