NEW DELHI: The Maldives government on Saturday arrested its own vice-president and once all powerful Ahmed Adeeb for his alleged role in the plot to assassinate the country’s president, Abdulla Yameen , days after Indian investigators joined an international probe into the attack.Adeeb's arrest is significant considering the fact that he had close links with both the President and his wife. Political sources and analysts in Male claim that Adeeb virtually ran the country with the help of Yameen's wife. Incidentally Yameen's wife was injured in the blast in the presidential boat last month in which the President escaped unhurt.Maldivian Home affairs minister Umar Naseer said Ahmed Adeeb was arrested on a charge of high treason in connection with the blast on the presidential boat last month. Adeeb, who had only assumed the vice presidency this July, is being held at a detention centre at an island near the capital Malé, the home minister said.India had sent a three-member team of forensic experts to assist in the investigation into the blast. Indian government, however, has not yet reacted to Adeeb's arrest. Senior officials, however, termed the development as interesting. In an effort to re-engage with neighbouring Maldives External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Male recently and the two countries are expected to sign counter-terror cooperation pact.Police also arrested three of Adeeb's supporters on Saturday. Security has been tightened in Male. Adeeb was arrested when he returned from an official visit to China."Vice-president Ahmed Adeeb has been arrested under a court warrant for the investigation into the explosion aboard the presidential speedboat," Maldivian police said on Twitter and an official website.The government said a bomb targeting Yameen was placed under his usual seat on the boat on September 28.Adeeb has denied that he was linked to the explosion.Yameen appointed Adeeb as his deputy three months ago after impeaching his original running mate, Mohamed Jameel, on charges of treason. Adeeb in the past has been alleged to maintain links with smugglers and drug peddlars.Adeeb's arrest is in series of actions taken by Yameen against his own loyalists.Hours before Adeeb’s arrest on Saturday the president sacked his police chief, Hussain Waheed. Defence minister Moosa Ali Jaleel was sacked 10 days ago, while on Thursday Yameen also fired his main government spokesman, Mohamed Shareef, a minister in his government.Maldivian authorities have also arrested two security personnel who had access to Yameen's boat but have yet to disclose what caused the explosion.