In a major development in the investigation into the deadly car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10, Faridabad Police have detained a man named Faheem, accused of parking a red Ford EcoSport vehicle linked to the prime suspect, Dr. Umar Un Nabi.
The blast, which occurred in a Hyundai i20 near the Red Fort complex, initially claimed 12 lives, with the death toll rising to 13 after another injured person succumbed to injuries at LNJP Hospital. Dozens more were injured in the explosion, classified by the Union Cabinet as a “terrorist incident” involving anti-national forces.
Dr. Umar Un Nabi was driving the explosive-laden car, and died in the blast along with the victims of the terror act. During the probe, police found that he owned another car, launched a search operation, and located the car yesterday evening in Khandawali village in Faridabad district, Haryana. The red Ford EcoSport SUV bearing registration number DL10CK0458 was found parked outside Dr. Nabi’s farmhouse in the village.
Now police have found that the car was driven to the place by Faheem. Intelligence sources revealed that Faheem is a close relative, reportedly the brother-in-law, of Dr. Umar Un Nabi, a 36-year-old doctor from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, who was teaching at Al-Falah University in Faridabad. Faheem was allegedly in contact with Umar before the incident and parked the vehicle at Khandawali village in Faridabad, where it was seized by police on Wednesday.
Forensic DNA testing confirmed on Wednesday that Dr. Umar Un Nabi was the individual driving the explosives-laden i20 at the time of the blast, matching samples with his mother’s biological material. CCTV footage showed Umar traveling across Delhi, visiting mosques, and parking near the blast site hours earlier.
Investigators uncovered diaries belonging to Umar and another accused, Dr. Muzammil who was arrested earlier with 360 kg of explosives near Al-Falah University, detailing plans from November 8-12 and listing around 25 individuals, mostly from Jammu and Kashmir and Faridabad. The diaries included code words and indicated a broader conspiracy, with suspects preparing multiple vehicles, including the i20, the EcoSport, a Brezza, and potentially more vehicles, for coordinated attacks.
The Maruti Brezza, believed to have been used by Dr. Nabi for reconnaissance, was found parked inside the Al-Falah University.
The case is linked to a busted Jaish-e-Mohammed-affiliated terror module involving “white-collar” professionals, including doctors, who procured explosives, weapons and funds. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the case, with raids ongoing in multiple states.
Union Cabinet yesterday called it a heinous terror incident perpetrated by anti-national forces.