A new CCTV video has surfaced showing three men getting a pollution check of the white Hyundai i20 that later exploded near Delhi’s Red Fort on Monday evening, killing nine people. The fresh footage has added a new dimension to the ongoing investigation into the suspected suicide bombing that shook the national capital.
CCTV clip traces car’s movements before blast
The video, dated October 29 at 4:20 pm, shows the car bearing registration number HR 26CE7674 parked beside a Pollution Under Control (PUC) booth. In the footage, a man in a shirt is seen speaking to officials at the booth while two others — one wearing a grey t-shirt and another in a white t-shirt with a backpack — approach the car.
Investigators suspect that one of the two bearded men is Tariq Malik, who allegedly facilitated the exchange of the vehicle on the same day it was sold to Dr Umar Mohammad, believed to be the suicide bomber behind the explosion. After the PUC check, the three men are seen sitting in the car and driving away.
Timeline of events before the explosion
Earlier CCTV footage captured the car entering the parking lot near the Red Fort at 3:19 pm on Monday. The suspected bomber, Umar Mohammad, can be seen in the driver’s seat, wearing a blue and black t-shirt with his hand resting on the window. The vehicle reportedly remained parked in the area for over three hours before leaving at around 6:30 pm.
According to investigative sources, Umar Mohammad never stepped out of the car while it was parked. Officials believe he was either waiting for someone or awaiting instructions before the explosion took place later that evening.
Complex chain of car ownership emerges
Sources have revealed a complicated chain of ownership involving the Hyundai i20, which had changed hands seven times before the explosion. The original owner, Mohd Salman, who has since been arrested, sold the car to a man named Devender in March. Devender then sold it to Aamir Rashid, who subsequently handed it over to Dr Umar Mohammad, with Tariq Malik allegedly assisting in the final exchange.
This tangled series of transactions has raised questions about how the vehicle was used and passed between individuals in the weeks leading up to the attack.
The Red Fort blast: what happened
At 6:52 pm on Monday, the car exploded near the Red Fort Metro Station, sending shockwaves through one of Delhi’s busiest areas. The powerful blast left nine people dead and several others injured, while multiple vehicles in the vicinity were severely damaged.
Disturbing visuals from the site showed mangled bodies and wrecked cars scattered across the road as emergency services rushed to the scene. The injured were quickly transported to Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP) for treatment.
Large teams of Delhi Police and National Security Guard (NSG) personnel cordoned off the area soon after the explosion, launching a massive search and forensic operation.
Connection to explosives found in Faridabad
The blast took place just hours after 2,900 kg of explosives were recovered from a location in Faridabad, around 50 km from Delhi. Investigators suspect that the explosives, which included ammonium nitrate, were meant for coordinated attacks in the region.
Sources said Umar Mohammad panicked after learning that two of his associates — Dr Mujammil Shakeel and Dr Adil Rather — had been arrested in connection with the Faridabad seizure. Believing that the network had been compromised, he allegedly triggered the explosion near Red Fort, killing himself and eight others.
Probe underway into wider terror network
Preliminary findings indicate that the blast was pre-planned, with Umar Mohammad and two other accomplices involved in assembling the explosive-laden car. Investigators are now working to identify his remaining associates and trace the source of the detonator.
Authorities are also examining the possibility of an organised module operating between Haryana, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir, given the movement of the suspects and the procurement of explosives.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expected to take over the case, given its implications for national security. Delhi Police have already detained several individuals linked to the vehicle’s past ownership and are scrutinising mobile and financial records connected to the suspects.
Capital on high alert
Following the explosion, security has been tightened across Delhi-NCR, with additional checks at metro stations, crowded markets, and key monuments. Police officials have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or abandoned vehicles.
The shocking blast — one of the deadliest in recent years near a high-security zone — has renewed concerns about terror threats in the capital, even as agencies intensify their efforts to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy.