Red Fort Car Blast Case: NIA Court Extends Judicial Custody of Nine Accused Till 13 July

A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court has extended the judicial custody of nine accused in the Red Fort car bomb blast case until 13 July. The court will also examine, on the same day, a forensic report submitted by the investigating agency on the body parts of those killed in the explosion, a lawyer said on Monday.

The Special NIA Court at the Patiala House Court Complex is also expected to consider the chargesheets filed against all the accused on 13 July.

The forensic report was submitted by the NIA following a detailed analysis.

Earlier, on 27 June, the NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet against three more accused, including an absconding suspect, in connection with the 10 November 2025 car bomb explosion near the Red Fort that killed 11 people.

The supplementary chargesheet names:

• Zameer Ahmad Ahanger
• Tufail Ahmad Bhat
• Muzafar Ahmad, also known as Faraz and Zafar

All three are residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

With the addition of the three accused, the total number of people chargesheeted in the case has risen to 13, including the prime accused, Umer Un Nabi, who died in the exploding vehicle.

According to the NIA, absconding accused Muzafar Ahmad, a paediatrician (MBBS, MD), is the elder brother of co-accused Adeel Ahmed Rather and a founding member of "AGuH Interim", which the agency describes as an offshoot of Al-Qaeda.

The agency alleges that Muzafar was among the principal conspirators behind the Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) blast alongside Umer Un Nabi, Muzammil, Adeel and Mufti Irfan.

The NIA further alleges that Muzafar:

• Attended a secret Eidgah meeting in Srinagar in June 2022 where AGuH Interim was established.
• Was involved in the manufacture, testing and safekeeping of TATP-based IEDs.
• Operated from a clandestine IED facility allegedly run by Umer and Muzammil at Al-Falah University, Faridabad.

A Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) has been issued against Muzafar, and efforts to trace and arrest him are continuing, the agency said.

According to the investigation, Zameer Ahmad Ahanger, described as an overground worker (OGW) of AGuH Interim, remained in contact with handlers and allegedly acted as a courier for arms, ammunition and cash.

The NIA also alleges that Tufail Ahmad Bhat, a former overground worker of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), served as the module's arms supplier. Investigators claim he procured an AK-47 rifle, a Krinkov rifle, a pistol, magazines and live ammunition through dead drops arranged by a handler before delivering them to Umer Un Nabi for ₹3 lakh.

Charges Filed

According to the supplementary chargesheet:

• Zameer Ahmad Ahanger and Tufail Ahmad Bhat have been charged under Sections 13, 18, 20, 23, 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), along with Sections 61(2), 147, 148 and 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
• Muzafar Ahmad has additionally been charged under Section 61(2), read with Sections 103(1), 109(1), 118(1) and 118(2) of the BNS, Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

The NIA said it established links between the accused through a multidisciplinary scientific investigation, including detailed forensic testing, geo-location mapping of alleged conspiracy sites and financial trail analysis.