Red Fort blast probe: Suspects used email drafts, encrypted app to evade detection

New Delhi: Members of the terror module under investigation for the deadly explosion near the Red Fort are believed to have used an unusual communication method — unsent email drafts — to avoid leaving a traceable digital trail, investigators said.

According to police sources, the suspects, including Dr Umar Un Nabi — thought to have been driving the car that exploded — and his associates, Dr Muzammil Ganaie and Dr Shaheen Shahid, relied on a single shared email account. Instead of sending messages, they saved them as drafts. The intended recipient would log into the same account, read the draft and delete it immediately, ensuring nothing was transmitted across networks.

Officials said the technique demonstrated a high level of caution within the group, allowing them to coordinate without relying on conventional, traceable communication channels.

Investigators also revealed that the suspects were in frequent contact through encrypted messaging platforms, including the Swiss-based app Threema. The application, which does not require a phone number or email for registration, assigns users a unique ID and offers robust encryption, making it difficult to trace activity.

Police sources believe the accused may have used a private Threema server to exchange sensitive material, including documents and maps linked to the alleged conspiracy. The platform’s ability to erase messages from both ends and its lack of metadata storage further complicate forensic analysis, officials said.

Preliminary findings suggest the encrypted app was used to circulate restricted information and coded messages among members of the module as they coordinated their activities.

The investigation into the blast, which killed and injured several people near the Red Fort metro station earlier this week, remains ongoing. Authorities are continuing to analyse digital evidence and communication patterns linked to the suspects.