Delhi/IBNS: Just hours after issuing a high alert, the Delhi Police on Wednesday located the red Ford EcoSport SUV suspected to be linked to the Red Fort blast, which claimed at least nine lives earlier this week.
The breakthrough came after an intense multi-agency hunt that spanned Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
According to officials, the car—bearing the registration number DL10CK0458—was found abandoned inside a farmhouse in Khandavali village, Haryana.
Police sources said the vehicle is registered in the name of Dr Umar Un Nabi, the main accused in the Red Fort explosion and a former faculty member at Al-Falah Medical College in Faridabad.
Key lead in major terror case
The discovery marks a critical development in what investigators have called Delhi’s most significant terror incident since the Pahalgam attack in April, which left 26 dead in Jammu and Kashmir.
The EcoSport is believed to have been used by Umar Nabi and his associates for reconnaissance and logistical movements before the explosion.
The alert for the car was issued late Tuesday night after investigators found evidence connecting the Hyundai i20—used in Monday’s deadly blast—to another red vehicle owned by the same group of suspects.
Within hours, five special Delhi Police teams, supported by counterparts in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, were deployed to track down the car.
Following the alert, all border checkpoints, police posts, and stations across the National Capital Region (NCR) were directed to stay vigilant. The car’s registration and insurance details were circulated nationwide.
Fake address and forensic clues
Investigators revealed that the red EcoSport was purchased using a fake address in North-East Delhi, provided by Umar Nabi.
During a late-night raid at the mentioned address, police found no occupants but recovered documents and traces suggesting vehicle movement between Faridabad and Delhi.
The car’s discovery in Haryana’s Khandavali village has prompted forensic teams to conduct a detailed examination.
Experts are checking for explosive residue, fingerprints, and DNA traces that could confirm the vehicle’s role in reconnaissance or bomb transportation.
“The car’s interior and boot area have been sealed for forensic analysis. It may hold critical evidence linking the suspects to the logistics of the Red Fort explosion,” a senior investigator said.
Suspect linked to Al-Falah University
Sources have confirmed that Dr Umar Un Nabi, who allegedly drove the Hyundai i20 that exploded near the Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening, also owned the recovered EcoSport.
Nabi, who died in the blast, is believed to have played a central role in the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)-linked terror module operating across Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Investigations indicate that Umar frequently changed locations to evade tracking by central agencies, especially after security forces intensified operations in Faridabad and Pulwama since mid-October.
University responds to terror links
In the wake of the controversy, Al-Falah University, where several of the accused doctors worked, issued an official statement distancing itself from any terror activities.
The university said, “As a responsible institution, we stand in solidarity with the nation and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to unity, peace, and security.”
“The University is extending full cooperation to the investigating authorities to enable them to reach a fair and conclusive determination in the matter,” it added.
The statement added that the Al-Falah Group, which has been managing multiple educational institutions since 1997, became autonomous in 2009 and was recognised as a university in 2014.
Expanding terror network under probe
Preliminary findings suggest that the Red Fort blast was part of a larger, well-coordinated terror conspiracy inspired by the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Investigators believe that the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) module—comprising radicalised professionals including doctors—was planning multiple strikes across Delhi and NCR.
The NIA, which has joined the investigation, is analysing data from mobile phones, laptops, and CCTV footage to piece together the suspects’ movement patterns and identify other vehicles or hideouts used by the group.
National capital on high alert
Following the recovery of the EcoSport, Delhi Police have intensified security checks across the city, particularly around Red Fort, India Gate, railway stations, and malls.
Border surveillance has also been strengthened to prevent any potential escape attempts by remaining module members.
A senior Delhi Police officer said, “The recovery of the red EcoSport is a crucial lead. It connects key dots in the conspiracy and helps us understand how the network functioned between Delhi and Haryana.”
The Red Fort blast, which occurred at 6:51 pm on Monday, continues to send ripples through the security establishment.
With nine people dead and dozens injured, the probe into this deadly attack remains one of India’s most high-stakes terror investigations in recent years.
