Investigators probing into the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort have found a fifth vehicle that may have been used by the “white-collar” terror module. This latest discovery is a rented Hyundai i10, which was used to secretly move explosive materials across Delhi-NCR just days before the attack, Hindustan Times reported.
According to the investigators, the car was rented between October 24 and 27 and is now suspected to have played a key role in transporting ammonium nitrate and other chemicals later recovered from the Faridabad home of main accused Dr Muzammil Shakeel Ganaie.
Car used to move chemicals across NCR
Special Cell officers said they suspect Umar used the i10 to transport large quantities of ammonium nitrate purchased from shops across Faridabad, Delhi and parts of Haryana. Days before the blast, police recovered around 2,900kg of explosive precursors from Ganaie’s room and other locations in Faridabad.
Investigators said the i10 belonged to a taxi owner who rented the car out for three days. The person who took it paid between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000 and refused to take a driver, which raised suspicion later.
We will now seize the vehicle, send it for forensic examination, and show the taxi owner and driver Umar’s photograph to confirm whether he was the one who took the car,” an investigator was quoted by HT as saying.
The absence of a GPS device has made it harder for the police to track the car’s exact route. Teams are now checking CCTV footage from fertiliser shops, chemical suppliers and major roads across Delhi-NCR to map its movements.
A senior officer also said they are checking whether several rented cars were used over the past months. Initial questioning of another accused, Dr Shaheen Shahid, indicates he often rented vehicles without drivers, suggesting the module shifted materials using multiple cars to avoid suspicion.
Meanwhile, a photograph circulated on social media on Monday showing Dr Shahid and Dr Muzammil standing next to a Maruti Brezza, the same vehicle seized by the police and bought by Shahid on September 25. Officers confirmed the picture is real.
Besides the two doctors, the police have also arrested Adeel Rather, an associate from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His arrest came after anti-India posters appeared in Nowgam, Srinagar, which led officers to uncover the larger terror module. Raids then resulted in the recovery of chemicals, explosive materials and the arrest of a cleric based in Faridabad.
Special Cell officers said they have questioned more than 50 people in the last week to trace any further links or hidden storage sites. “We are making sure no explosives or associates connected to Umar’s mission are still active,” an official said.
250 cases filed for skipping police verification
In response to the blast, Delhi Police launched a districtwide verification drive. So far, 250 people in the North district have been booked for failing to complete the mandatory police verification process for tenants and occupants.
DCP (North) Raja Banthia said police have checked documents in more than 2,000 houses, lodges and hotels. Several FIRs were filed under Section 223(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with disobeying lawful orders issued by public authorities.
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