In a significant breakthrough in the Red Fort blast case that claimed 13 lives, investigators have meticulously reconstructed the nearly 11-hour journey of the explosive-laden Hyundai i20 through Delhi before the devastating explosion occurred on Monday evening.
The 11-Hour Trail of Terror
The investigation has revealed that the suspect vehicle entered the national capital around 8:03 am on Monday via the Badarpur toll booth from Faridabad road, beginning what would become an extensive surveillance operation spanning multiple locations across Delhi.
According to senior police officials, the car was first spotted in the early hours of Sunday near Al-Falah University in Faridabad's Dhauj village around 2 am. The vehicle reappeared on CCTV footage around 7:30 am Monday outside Asian Hospital in Faridabad before making its entry into Delhi.
Detailed Route Mapping
Multiple specialized teams from Delhi Police worked tirelessly, scanning over 100 CCTV cameras to piece together the exact route taken by the Hyundai i20. The vehicle was tracked across various prominent locations in the capital from approximately 8 am until the explosion occurred just before 7 pm on Monday.
The investigation uncovered that after entering Delhi, the car was spotted at a petrol pump near Modi Mill in the Okhla industrial area around 8:20 am. From there, it moved through Ashram Chowk and Maharani Bagh before appearing on the DND flyover around 8:30 am.
Police sources revealed that the vehicle entered East Delhi from DND flyover and was seen outside Crowne Plaza hotel around 8:45 am and near Chilla village. Interestingly, around 9 am, the car returned to DND flyover and entered South-East Delhi, indicating possible reconnaissance or route planning.
Final Movements Before Explosion
The critical final hours of the vehicle's movement show it was spotted around 2 pm outside Connaught Place police station and Delite cinema hall in Central Delhi. At 3:19 pm, the car was captured on CCTV entering the T-5 parking area adjacent to the Red Fort, where it remained for approximately three hours.
A senior police officer involved in the investigation stated, "The driver didn't come out of the car during the parking period, and there is no presence of him on CCTV footage from cameras installed at the entrance gate of T-5 parking area or the vicinity."
The vehicle was seen exiting the parking area at 6:48 pm. CCTV footage shows heavy traffic when the car left the parking lot, with a person in the driver's seat collecting what appears to be a parking slip. After exiting, the driver headed towards Upper Netaji Subhash Marg, took a U-turn, came onto lower Netaji Subhash Marg, and moved towards Red Fort before the explosion occurred midway.
Investigation Focus and Suspect Identification
The probe has zeroed in on a 34-year-old resident of Pulwama who purchased the vehicle on October 29. Highly placed sources in police forces of three states have identified the driver as Dr Umar Nabi, a Pulwama resident employed at Faridabad's Al-Falah School of Medical Sciences & Research Centre.
Investigators are currently collecting substantial evidence before making the suspect's identity public. The case has now been transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for further investigation.
The vehicle ownership trail reveals that the first owner, Salman, sold the car through an online app to Devender, who then contacted car dealer Sonu. Sonu listed the vehicle on OLX, where it was ultimately sold to the current suspect. Both Salman and Sonu have been handed over to investigative agencies for questioning.
The coordinated investigation involved specialized units of Delhi Police working with specific tasks - one team tracking the car's movement before Delhi entry, and another reviewing footage to trace the vehicle within the national capital, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to solving this terror attack.
