New Delhi: The investigation into the November 10 bombing near Delhi’s Red Fort — an attack that left 13 people dead — took a significant turn this week with the National Investigation Agency detaining a man from Jammu & Kashmir’s Pulwama district for allegedly helping source the vehicle used in the Delhi Blast.
Authorities confirmed that Amir Rashid Ali, whose identification documents were reportedly used to purchase the Hyundai i20 that later exploded, was picked up from the capital after days of questioning. The NIA formally took charge of the case on November 11, triggering an extensive multi-state search.
The blast site near Red Fort had quickly yielded its first major clue: the remains of a car traced back to Pulwama. Within hours of the explosion, local police in J&K rounded up several individuals from Samboora village, including Amir, Umer Rashid Mir, and Tariq Malik, a private security guard. All three were believed to have either connections to the car itself or to Umer — identified through forensic analysis as the man driving the vehicle at the moment of detonation.
Investigators said that while the trail began with ownership records, it soon expanded. Amir’s Aadhaar card had allegedly been used during the purchase of the car, prompting police to keep him in custody until the NIA formally arrested him. According to officials, Amir is believed to have coordinated with Umer, described as the “suicide bomber,” in arranging the vehicle and facilitating its movement to Delhi.
Another individual whose name has surfaced in the probe is Nabi, an assistant professor at Al Falah University and also a Pulwama resident. A vehicle registered in his name has been seized by investigators for forensic examination as part of efforts to piece together the broader network behind the Delhi Blast.
So far, the NIA has questioned at least 73 witnesses, including survivors of the blast. Digital evidence has become a major focus, with officers attempting to retrace the online activities of what they describe as a “white-collar module” suspected of planning or financing the attack.
Although early intelligence inputs suggested that operatives linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) may have guided the plot, investigators say they have not yet uncovered direct digital communication tying the accused to the alleged handlers. Nevertheless, the number of detentions has climbed as the agency pursues several possible threads.
Three individuals already in custody — Muzammil Ganai, Shaheen Shahid, and Adeel Rather — are undergoing sustained interrogation. Officials are probing whether they maintained contact with JeM associates or with facilitators believed to be operating from Turkiye.
The NIA is coordinating its efforts with police forces in Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, along with multiple central agencies. According to senior officials, the investigation is now focused on mapping the full chain of events and identifying every participant who may have contributed to the planning, financing, or execution of the bombing.
