Delhi Red Fort blast: What we know so far and key revelations from the NIA probe

The Red Fort blast in Delhi that rocked the national capital earlier this week has unfolded into one of the most alarming terror probes of the year. The explosion near the Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening killed more than 10 people and injured over 20 others.

Now, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officially taking over, officials say the blast may be linked to a larger Pakistan-backed terror network spanning Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. What initially appeared to be an isolated explosion is now emerging as part of a white-collar terror plot involving educated professionals and massive explosive stockpiles.

Here’s what we know so far from the ongoing Red Fort blast investigation:

1. Red Fort recce and a missed Republic Day, Diwali plot

Data recovered from the phones of suspects Dr. Muzammil Ganaie and Dr. Umar Nabi shows both men carried out multiple reconnaissance visits around the Red Fort area in January 2025.

Investigators believe they were planning a Republic Day 2026 attack, but later considered targeting Diwali crowds before the premature explosion ruined their plan. Officials say the recce and phone data provide “clear intent and coordination” behind the blast.

2. Al-Falah University under the scanner

The Al-Falah University campus in Faridabad, Haryana, is now a focal point in the probe after three of its doctors were arrested in connection with the module. Investigators are examining whether the campus served as a recruitment or safe space for people linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.

University Vice-Chancellor Bhupinder Kaur has denied institutional involvement, saying the suspects were merely “employees, not representatives” of the university.

READ MORE: Red Fort blast revives Delhi’s dark terror timeline: From Lajpat Nagar to High Court

3. Faridabad police seize red EcoSport linked to suspect

In a new development, Faridabad Police have rounded up a red Ford EcoSport (registration DL 10 CK 0458) believed to be linked to Dr. Umar Un Nabi, the prime suspect in the case.

The vehicle was found parked near Khandawali village, a police spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.

Officials are examining whether the car was used for transporting explosives or reconnaissance runs before the blast.

4. The i20 car and the false social media claim

Viral posts claimed that the Hyundai i20 car used in the explosion had been parked on the university premises for days. However, Faridabad Police have refuted this, clarifying that no such link has been verified and that misleading information was circulating online.

5. The Pulwama connection: Umar Nabi identified as main suspect

The driver of the blast vehicle has been identified as Dr. Umar Nabi, a Pulwama-based medical professional suspected to have ties with the same terror module.

To confirm his identity, Jammu and Kashmir Police have taken a DNA sample from his mother, which is being matched with evidence recovered from the blast site.

6. Panic, pressure, and a premature explosion

According to investigators, the explosion may have been triggered accidentally as Umar attempted to destroy or relocate evidence after nationwide raids exposed the module. He acted in haste after realising security agencies were closing in said a senior officer.

Officials say the bomb was “premature and not fully developed”, which explains the absence of a crater or shrapnel. It is believed that Umar was transporting the IED when it detonated due to improper handling.

7. 2,900 kg of explosives seized in Faridabad, linked to Red Fort blast

A breakthrough came when police linked the Red Fort explosives to the 2,900 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, detonators, and rifles seized during the Faridabad raid last week.

Forensic experts confirmed that the chemical composition of the blast material matched the confiscated consignment, solidifying the connection between the Delhi explosion and the busted inter-state terror network.

8. Forensic findings and next steps

The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has collected more than 40 samples from the Red Fort Metro blast site, including two cartridges, one of them live and traces of two different types of explosives.

These findings are expected to provide crucial leads on the manufacture and origin of the bomb components.

The NIA is now coordinating with Delhi, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir Police to trace financial transactions, communication trails, and handlers connected to the suspects.

9. A larger plan to create panic before Republic Day?

While the investigation is still in its early phase, sources say the NIA is probing whether the Red Fort blast was part of a larger plan to create panic in the capital ahead of the Republic Day security build-up.

Officials are also examining links between the arrested doctors and foreign terror handlers who may have guided the module remotely.