NIA Arrests Key Conspirator in Red Fort Car Bomb Blast; Links to Suicide Bomber Confirmed

New Delhi, Nov 2025 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key conspirator in the Red Fort area car bomb blast, marking a major breakthrough in the November 10 terror attack that shook the national capital. The arrested individual, identified as Amir Rashid Ali, is a resident of Samboora in Pampore, Jammu and Kashmir, and is believed to have played a critical role in planning and facilitating the bombing.

According to an official NIA statement issued on Sunday, Amir was taken into custody in Delhi after a large-scale search operation launched by the agency upon formally taking over the investigation from Delhi Police. The car used as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) in the attack had been registered in his name.

The investigation has revealed that Amir had conspired closely with the suicide bomber, Umar Un Nabi, to carry out the explosion. Amir had travelled to Delhi specifically to assist in the purchase of the car, which was later packed with explosives and detonated near the Red Fort area.

The NIA has also forensically confirmed the identity of the deceased driver of the VBIED as 32-year-old Umar Un Nabi, a resident of Pulwama district. In a shocking revelation, Nabi was found to be an Assistant Professor in the General Medicine Department at Al Falah University in Faridabad, indicating a deeper and more complex radicalisation network.

In addition to Amir’s arrest, the NIA has seized another vehicle belonging to Nabi. The vehicle is currently being examined for residue, communication devices, and other potential evidence.

So far, 73 witnesses, including injured victims and local residents, have been examined. Investigators are also analysing CCTV footage, mobile tower dumps, financial transactions, and digital data to piece together the broader conspiracy.

The NIA is coordinating with Delhi Police, Jammu & Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, Uttar Pradesh Police, and central intelligence agencies. Multiple teams are pursuing leads across states to identify other collaborators, financiers, and handlers connected to the bombing, registered under case RC-21/2025/NIA/DLI.

Officials described the probe as “active and multi-layered,” with more arrests likely as the investigation progresses.