New Delhi: Investigators probing the Red Fort car blast have identified Dr Umar Mohammad, a 32-year-old doctor from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, as the prime suspect behind Monday evening’s deadly explosion that killed nine people and injured over 20 in central Delhi.

CCTV footage has revealed that Umar parked a white Hyundai i20 (HR 26 CE 7674) inside a parking lot near the Red Fort around 3.19 pm and remained there for nearly three hours.

He was seen sitting alone inside the car before driving out at 6.48 pm, minutes before the powerful explosion ripped through a traffic signal near Gate No. 1 of Red Fort Metro Station, one of Old Delhi’s busiest stretches.

According to Delhi Police’s Special Cell, Umar is believed to have been part of a “white-collar terror module” with links in Faridabad and Pulwama. Sources told NDTV that he had been under the radar for suspected involvement in financing and facilitating sleeper cells across northern India.

Investigators say the three-hour wait indicates he may have been awaiting instructions or a trigger command.

“He neither interacted with anyone nor appeared anxious. His stillness was unnerving,” said a senior investigator, adding that preliminary forensic tests suggest the use of RDX mixed with ammonium nitrate—a high-intensity explosive.

The car’s registration trail points to multiple ownership transfers over the past year, ending with Umar. Investigators suspect the vehicle was procured through informal deals to obscure its source.

Delhi Police have filed charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosives Act, and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Raids were conducted overnight in Paharganj, Daryaganj, and Faridabad, leading to four detentions for questioning. Over 100 CCTV clips from toll plazas and inner-city routes are being analysed to trace his movements.

Officials have not ruled out that Umar may have perished in the blast, possibly as a suicide bomber, though forensic confirmation is awaited.

Security around major landmarks has been tightened, and the Red Fort remains closed for three days for forensic examination.