A fresh photograph has emerged showing Dr Shaheen Shahid, arrested in connection with the Red Fort car blast, purchasing a brand-new Maruti Brezza — a vehicle allegedly used to transport explosives by members of what investigators describe as a “white-collar” terror network.
New evidence ties her to terror vehicle
The photo, obtained exclusively by India Today, shows Shaheen and Muzammil Shakeel, another arrested suspect, accepting documents and keys for the Brezza at a showroom. According to investigators, this very Brezza was later found parked at Al Falah University, where a massive cache of explosives was seized just hours before the Red Fort explosion.
Authorities say a Krinkov rifle was also recovered from a Maruti vehicle at the university, and that car belongs to Shaheen. The acquisition of this vehicle points to her deep involvement in the terror module, and suggests that she was not merely a peripheral actor but actively facilitating logistics.
Role in a “white-collar” terror network
Investigators describe the group as a sophisticated terror infrastructure, involving well-educated professionals and a “white-collar” network. Shaheen is believed to have played a pivotal role — she is being accused of establishing and leading the women’s recruitment wing of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in India.
Intelligence inputs suggest that she was handling financial channels, recruitment and strategic planning for future attacks. Her access to respectable circles and her credentials have raised alarm about how terror networks may exploit professional classes to further their aims.
Plot revelations and future attack plans
According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), this network was not limited to the Red Fort blast. Investigators claim they had uncovered plans for a major fidayeen-style attack on 6 December, with Shaheen and several other operatives — including Dr Umar un Nabi of Al Falah Medical College — playing central roles.
Following the November 10 blast near the Red Fort, which killed 14 people, the NIA swiftly arrested several doctors linked to Al Falah Medical College, including Shaheen and Muzammil. The blast involved an IED-packed car that was allegedly driven by Dr Umar.
NIA leads a multi-state investigation
The NIA has taken over the investigation and is working in close coordination with police forces across multiple states. The probe has already recovered several vehicles connected to the terror module, and it is expanding to uncover the full extent of financial, logistical and recruitment networks.
Officials note that the use of vehicles such as the Brezza for terror logistics shows a shift in modus operandi: rather than relying solely on safe houses and foot-soldiers, the network was leveraging consumer vehicles and professional identities.
Implications of the Brezza purchase
Buying a car in broad daylight from a showroom suggests a level of confidence and boldness. The purchase date — 25 September — is especially significant because it gives the NIA a timeline to understand how the vehicle was procured, registered (in Haryana), and repurposed for dangerous activities.
Such a purchase also raises serious questions: How did financing work? Who funded the vehicle? Were there shell companies or bribes involved?
The newly surfaced photograph could help investigators unravel more of the financial trail linking Shaheen and others to JeM and other terror-financing channels.
Conclusion
The emergence of this photograph and further details about the Brezza underline the seriousness and sophistication of the terror network allegedly operating under Shaheen’s influence. Her involvement in recruitment, financing and logistics suggests a deeply entrenched terror infrastructure that transcends traditional militant profiles.
With the NIA leading the multi-state investigation, these revelations may help dismantle a broader infrastructure that could pose a grave threat to national security. As the probe progresses, the role of professionals in radical networks is likely to receive even more scrutiny.