Red Fort blast: Cops trace vehicles parked nearby; quiz drivers, owners

The Delhi Police Special Cell has registered a separate FIR under sections related to criminal conspiracy to probe the broader plot behind the blast.

Investigators are tracing every vehicle and questioning drivers to reconstruct the events leading up to the deadly Red Fort car blast, focusing on the three hours the Hyundai i20 involved remained in a nearby parking lot on the evening of November 10, officials said Saturday.

Investigating officers are tracking vehicle registration numbers and summoning drivers and owners to determine if they noticed the Haryana-registered Hyundai i20 involved in the explosion.

The Delhi Police Special Cell has registered a separate FIR under sections related to criminal conspiracy to probe the broader plot behind the blast. The original FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

According to sources cited in a PTI report, several vehicles were present when Dr. Umar Nabi, the driver of the exploded car, parked it on Monday. “Every driver who was present there around that time is being traced to see whether they noticed the HR-26 car, how many people were inside it, and whether anyone else was accompanying Umar,” a source has been cited by PTI.

Investigators are showing Umar’s photograph to witnesses to confirm if he was alone or if others entered or exited the car during the three hours it remained in the parking lot. The objective is to reconstruct the precise sequence of events and determine whether the explosives were planted at the site or earlier.

Parallely, authorities are probing whether the arrested doctor, Dr. Muzammil Ganaie, had regular contact with a group of doctors associated with Al Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana. Sources said around 15 doctors connected to the university and known to be in contact with Dr. Muzammil are currently untraceable.

“Call detail records showed multiple conversations between Dr. Muzammil and several doctors. When agencies tried to reach them, their phones were switched off. A team sent to Al Falah University found most of them missing,” a source said. Investigators are examining whether these missing individuals had a role in planning or executing the alleged terror module.

The probe follows a November 10 crackdown on a “white-collar terror module” across Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, which led to the seizure of 2,900 kg of explosives and the arrest of eight suspects, including three doctors. Hours later, a high-intensity blast ripped through a slow-moving car near the Red Fort metro station, killing 13 people and injuring several others.

(With inputs from agencies)