The investigation into the explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday (November 10) has now been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Officials confirmed this on Tuesday (November 11) after important clues suggested that the blast may have been part of a planned terror attack. At least eight people lost their lives in the incident.

Before this, Delhi Police had registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a law used to deal with threats to national security.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that those responsible for the blast will be punished.

Investigators have also linked the case to Dr. Umar, who is originally from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir. He is believed to have connections with two doctors who were arrested earlier in the Faridabad terror module case. Dr. Umar has been missing since those arrests. The Faridabad operation had led to the recovery of a large amount of explosive material and the arrest of two doctors involved in terror-related activities.

On Monday evening, a Hyundai i20 car exploded near the Red Fort, one of Delhi’s most famous landmarks. The blast killed at least eight people and injured around 20 others.

Earlier that same day, Jammu and Kashmir Police had conducted operations across multiple states and found nearly 3,000 kg of materials used to make IEDs. In another raid in Faridabad, officials seized 360 kg of flammable substances, believed to be ammonium nitrate, along with ammunition.

The car involved in the blast had a Haryana registration number. Investigations show that it had changed owners several times.

  • The car was originally owned by Mohd Salman, who has now been taken into custody.

  • Salman sold the car to a person in Okhla.

  • From there, it was sold to a buyer in Ambala.

  • Later, it was purchased by Dr. Umar, who is from Pulwama.

The vehicle was reportedly bought by Dr. Umar on October 29. He has been missing since the Faridabad arrests. Police have also detained three people from Pulwama for questioning to understand more about the case.