Delhi Blast: Terror Links Emerge as Investigators Trace i20 Car’s Multi-State Trail

New Delhi, Nov 2025 : A complex terror trail spanning Delhi, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir is emerging as investigators piece together events leading to Monday evening’s explosion near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station. The blast, triggered by a white Hyundai i20 bearing a Haryana registration number, killed at least eight people and injured dozens, prompting high alerts across multiple states.

Early findings reveal that the Hyundai i20 used in the attack was bought from a second-hand car dealer in Faridabad’s Sector 37. The car had exchanged hands several times over the years, making its ownership trail a critical part of the investigation. According to officials, the vehicle was initially registered in 2014 to Mohammad Salman of Gurugram. It was later sold to Nadeem, then to a Faridabad car dealer, before being purchased by Aamir, followed by Tariq—both suspected to have links with a terror module active in the Faridabad region. The car eventually came into the possession of Mohammad Umar, who along with several previous owners is now under investigation.

Monday’s explosion coincided with a major counter-terror operation in Faridabad, where police earlier in the day dismantled an inter-state module associated with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. Authorities recovered 2,900 kilograms of explosives, assault rifles, pistols, detonators, and timers. Two Jammu and Kashmir-based doctors—Adil Ahmad Rather and Muzammil—were arrested for their involvement. Sources believe these arrests may have panicked the module, accelerating the execution of the blast.

CCTV footage has become central to the investigation. Recordings show the suspect vehicle entering the Red Fort parking zone around 3:19 p.m., remaining there for nearly three hours, and exiting at approximately 6:48 p.m., just minutes before the explosion. Investigators are scrutinizing more than 100 CCTV clips from nearby roads, toll plazas and markets to map the car’s movements.

Delhi Police sources say the suspect appears to be alone in the footage. The vehicle’s route toward Daryaganj and later to Chhata Rail Chowk—where the blast ultimately occurred—is now being reconstructed. Police are also questioning the parking attendant who was on duty at the time to determine who brought the car in and who drove it out.

A parallel examination of CCTV footage from the Sunheri Masjid area revealed that the car was parked outside the mosque for nearly two hours before the explosion. The footage shows three occupants arriving from Daryaganj Market around 4 p.m., parking the car near the mosque, then later driving towards the Old Delhi Railway Station, where they took a U-turn before heading toward Lower Subhash Marg. The explosion occurred at 6:31 p.m., moments after the vehicle slowed down at a traffic signal.

Officials are investigating whether the explosion was timed to detonate at the signal or if the occupants intended to drive the car into the Red Fort, indicating a possible suicide attack. Early leads suggest the latter cannot be ruled out, particularly in light of intelligence that the Faridabad module planned multiple car-bomb attacks across Delhi.

A case has been filed under Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, along with provisions of the Explosives Act and several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Delhi Police Special Cell, and Ambala Police are jointly probing the case.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the blast site late Monday night and later met the injured at LNJP Hospital. He assured families that “no angle is being overlooked” and directed agencies to work in coordination. On Tuesday, he will chair a high-level security review meeting at Kartavya Bhawan with top officials, including the Union Home Secretary, IB Director, Delhi Police Commissioner, and the NIA Chief. The J&K Director General of Police will participate virtually.

With fears of additional planned attacks, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Mumbai have been placed on high alert. Security around metro stations, markets, government buildings, and religious sites has been intensified. Gate Nos. 1 and 4 of Lal Qila Metro Station have been temporarily closed as security operations continue in the area.

Investigators believe the Faridabad module intended to deploy multiple explosive-laden vehicles across Delhi, including near metro stations and high-footfall zones. Officials say the terror network may have planned suicide attacks aimed at iconic structures and crowded locations, hoping to trigger a series of coordinated blasts.

For now, the probe continues on multiple fronts, with officials racing against time to determine whether more explosive-filled vehicles have already been planted elsewhere in the city.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)