Pulwama connection in Red Fort blast: Car linked to J&K man, probe expands to Faridabad raid case

New Delhi: A chilling Pulwama connection has emerged in the Red Fort blast that killed at least nine people and injured several others in the heart of Delhi on Monday evening. 

Investigators have traced the Hyundai i20 car that exploded near Gate No. 1 of Red Fort Metro Station to a resident of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, setting off a major multi-agency probe into the vehicle’s ownership trail and possible terror links. 

According to officials, the vehicle was last registered under Salman, who had sold it to Tariq, the Pulwama resident now under scrutiny.

However, the registration certificate (RC) remained in Salman’s name and was never officially transferred — raising red flags over the car’s multiple ownership changes and possible use of forged documents.

Investigators revealed that the same i20 had been challaned for wrong parking in Faridabad on September 20, 2025, a lead that may help reconstruct its movements before the explosion.

The explosion — which occurred less than 500 metres from Old Delhi Railway Junction — sent shockwaves through the densely packed Chandni Chowk area, shattering nearby vehicles, windows, and streetlights.

Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as the car, which had halted at a red light, suddenly went up in flames, shaking buildings and scattering debris across the busy intersection.

Police said that the car, in which the blast took place, had three occupants, adding that they are also probing if it was a suicide bomber attack.

"The blast occurred in a moving Hyundai i20 car in which three people were sitting. We have not found any pellet or puncture in the body of the injured, which is unusual in a blast. We are investigating all angles,” a senior police officer said. 

Multiple Agencies On Site:

Teams from the Delhi Police Special Cell, National Security Guard (NSG), National Investigation Agency (NIA), and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) rushed to the scene, cordoning off the area and collecting debris.

Early forensic findings suggest the blast may not have involved conventional shrapnel components like nails or ball bearings, often used in improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Experts are currently testing for traces of nitrates, TNT, or other chemicals to determine if the explosion was mechanical or chemical in nature.

Security Tightened Nationwide:

In the wake of the explosion, security has been heightened across Delhi and other major cities. All CISF-secured installations — including the Delhi Metro, Red Fort complex, government offices, and IGI Airport — are on high alert.

In Mumbai, police have stepped up patrols, nakabandis, and activated ground intelligence networks. Railway stations, such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, and Thane, are under enhanced surveillance, with dog squads and bomb disposal units deployed.

Security has been beefed up at the Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine, its base camp Katra, and Jammu city following the Red Fort blast in the national capital Monday evening, officials said.

Government Response: 

In a post on X, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "The car blast in Delhi is shocking and distressing. I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured."

"My thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy," he added.

Expressing sadness, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that a high-level investigation should be conducted into this incident, and the culprits should be given the strictest possible punishment.

"Sad news has been received about a bomb blast near Delhi's Red Fort. In which several people have reportedly died a painful death, and several others have been injured. A high-level investigation should be conducted into this incident that occurred in the country's capital, and the culprits should be given the strictest possible punishment," Mann said in a post on X.

"We pray to the Almighty for the eternal peace of the souls of the pedestrians who lost their lives in this accident and wish for the swift recovery of the injured," he added.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma informed that following the blast, all security agencies of the state have been directed to remain on high alert, enhance vigilance, and maintain strict surveillance.

"The incident of the explosion that occurred in Delhi is extremely tragic and painful. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the citizens who lost their lives in this heart-wrenching accident. May God grant peace to the departed souls and a speedy and complete recovery to the injured," Sharma said in a post on X.

"In view of the gravity of the incident, all security agencies of the state have been directed to remain on high alert, enhance vigilance, and maintain strict surveillance," he added.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, "Deeply pained by the loss of precious lives in the tragic blast in Delhi this evening. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. Praying for the swift and complete recovery of all those injured."

Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, also expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in the blast.

"Extremely pained by the loss of lives in a blast in Delhi. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon," he said in a post on X.

According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the blast occurred in a Hyundai i20 car at the Subhash Marg traffic signal near the Red Fort in Delhi at 7 pm on Monday, and the blast injured some pedestrians and damaged some vehicles. 

The Home Minister told ANI that teams from the Delhi Crime Branch and Delhi Special Branch arrived at the spot within 10 minutes of receiving the information of the blast.

"This evening, around 7 pm, a blast occurred in a Hyundai i20 car at the Subhash Marg traffic signal near the Red Fort in Delhi. The blast injured some pedestrians and damaged some vehicles. Preliminary reports indicate that some people have lost their lives. Within 10 minutes of receiving the information of the blast, teams from the Delhi Crime Branch and Delhi Special Branch arrived at the spot," Amit Shah said.

"We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, taking all possibilities into account. All options will be investigated immediately, and we will present the results to the public," he added.

President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan have expressed their condolences for the loss of lives in the high-intensity blast near Delhi's iconic Red Fort that occurred on Monday evening, leaving at least eight people dead and many others injured.

"I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the blast that has taken place in Delhi. I pray for quick recovery of those injured," President Murmu said in a post on X.

"Deeply anguished by the blast in Delhi this evening. Heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones, and prayers for the swift recovery of the injured," Vice-President Radhakrishnan wrote on X.

A high-intensity blast ripped through a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort Metro station on Monday evening, killing at least nine people and injuring 20 others, officials said.

Shah said top investigating agencies are probing the incident, and will go in-depth into the blast which took place in a Hyundai i20 car.

Authorities are now zeroing in on the Pulwama connection, the vehicle’s suspicious sale history, and possible use of forged documents — a combination that could prove crucial in solving the mystery behind this deadly Red Fort blast.