New Delhi— Two days after a deadly explosion in a white Hyundai i20 near the Red Fort killed at least 10 people and injured dozens, investigators have uncovered new leads suggesting the involvement of a second car owned by the prime suspect, Dr. Umar Un Nabi.
According to officials, a red Ford EcoSport (DL10CK0458) registered in Umar’s name was seen in Delhi, prompting the Delhi Police Special Cell to issue a high alert across the National Capital Region. “All police stations, as well as the UP and Haryana Police, have been alerted to search for this vehicle,” an officer said.
The EcoSport, registered at the Rajouri Garden RTO on November 22, 2017, is believed to be critical in tracing Umar’s movements before and after the blast. Police have requested the Delhi Transport Department to provide details of recent vehicle transfers as part of the probe.
Multiple police teams are now coordinating searches across Delhi and nearby NCR towns. However, investigators have not disclosed where the red car was last spotted or whether anyone was inside.
The explosion occurred around 6:52 pm on Monday at Netaji Subhash Marg, when the white i20—retrofitted with a CNG tank and carrying the registration number HR26CE7674—stopped near the Red Fort Metro Station. The massive blast ignited nearby vehicles, including six cars, two e-rickshaws, an auto-rickshaw, and a bus, leaving the area engulfed in flames and smoke.
Emergency teams rushed to the scene after the first distress call at 6:55 pm, and the blaze was brought under control by 7:29 pm. Victims were immediately taken to Lok Nayak Hospital, while visuals from the site showed mangled vehicles, debris, and twisted metal scattered across the intersection.
Investigators are examining hours of CCTV footage and the charred remains of the vehicles to trace the car’s route and identify potential accomplices. Security agencies suspect the involvement of a “white-collar terror network” operating across Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, which may have planned the attack for months.
