New Delhi, Nov 13: A medical college professor and a cardiology student from Jammu and Kashmir were detained in Uttar Pradesh in connection with Monday night’s deadly Red Fort car blast, as investigators uncovered evidence of plans for further attacks across four cities. Meanwhile, the government ordered a forensic audit of Al Falah University, which is under intense scrutiny following the incident, and directed financial investigative agencies to trace the institution’s money trail.
The blast, which ripped through the historic site on Monday, claimed 13 lives and left several others injured. The Delhi Police have reconstructed the movements of Dr Umar Nabi, the driver of the Hyundai i20 laden with explosives, mapping his journey from Faridabad to the national capital using footage from over 50 cameras. Investigators described his travel as meticulous, with stops at small eateries and overnight halts in vehicles, suggesting deliberate efforts to avoid detection.
Dr Farukh, an assistant professor of obstetrics at Hapur’s GS Medical College, was arrested from the campus on Wednesday night. He had completed his medical education at Al Falah University. Mohammad Arif Mir, a 32-year-old first-year DM student at Kanpur’s GSVM Medical College, was detained by the Uttar Pradesh ATS, which also seized his mobile phone and laptop for forensic examination before taking him to Delhi for questioning. Arif came under surveillance following disclosures by a former GSVM professor, Dr Shaheen Sayeed, who has also been arrested in connection with the terror module.
Police said investigators uncovered a sophisticated network of suspects, primarily from Jammu and Kashmir and nearby regions, operating through encrypted messaging apps such as Threema and Signal. Evidence from notebooks and diaries recovered from Al Falah University indicated that several attacks had been planned in batches, with rented accommodations identified for storing explosives.
Authorities revealed that the suspects had pooled more than Rs 26 lakh in cash for operational use and purchased approximately 26 quintals of NPK fertiliser, commonly used to manufacture improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Around eight suspects were reportedly involved in plotting blasts across four cities.
Following the incident, the Association of Indian Universities suspended Al Falah University’s membership, citing concerns over its standing. Earlier, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council had issued a show-cause notice to the university for displaying false certifications on its website. Sources said the government has ordered a forensic audit of the institution’s records, while the ED and other agencies are examining its finances.
The Union Home Minister chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to review the investigation’s progress. Police confirmed that the blast car carried a large bag of explosives on its back seat and that other vehicles, including a red Ford Ecosport and a Maruti Brezza, have been seized for further investigation.
As authorities pieced together Umar’s movements, a chilling pattern emerged: after leaving Haryana’s Nuh district on Sunday, he avoided major towns, stayed at roadside dhabas, and entered Delhi via the Badarpur border, carefully coordinating cash payments and his travel schedule. Investigators described his actions as calculated, emphasizing the level of planning involved in executing the attack.
Meanwhile, a severed hand was recovered near the blast site on Thursday, and the death toll rose to 13 after another victim succumbed to injuries at LNJP Hospital. DNA tests confirmed that Dr Umar Nabi had been driving the car at the time of the explosion.
The Congress party has demanded an all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and suggested advancing the Winter Session of Parliament to discuss accountability and the government’s handling of the terror threat.
