Fresh CCTV footage from the day of the blast near the Red Fort has surfaced, showing prime suspect Dr Umar Nabi entering Delhi through the Badarpur border toll plaza and later walking near a mosque close to the Ramlila Maidan.
In the footage from the Badarpur toll plaza, Umar is seen driving a white Hyundai i20 and stopping at the toll gate around 8:02 am on 10 November, the day of the explosion. The car pauses briefly as Umar takes out cash and hands it to the toll operator before proceeding. Investigators said Umar, who was wearing a mask, repeatedly looked towards the CCTV camera — apparently aware that security agencies were tracking him. A large bag can be seen on the back seat of the car, a senior officer said.
“His repeated glances towards the CCTV camera suggest that he knew the agencies were looking for him and was consciously monitoring his surroundings,” the officer added.
Later that day, another CCTV clip from a lane near a mosque close to the Ramlila Maidan shows Umar walking along a narrow stretch before briefly turning his head - the moment his face is clearly captured on camera. Police suspect he visited the mosque to offer prayers before moving towards the Red Fort.
A massive explosion rocked the national capital on Monday evening when the same Hyundai i20 blew up near the Red Fort at 6:52 pm, killing 13 people and injuring several others. The force of the blast damaged nearby vehicles and scattered debris across the road.
Officials said Umar was captured in multiple CCTV clips from different parts of Delhi on the day of the incident, including one from the Sunehri Masjid car park near the Red Fort, where he arrived at 3:19 pm and left at 6:28 pm - just 24 minutes before the explosion.
Forensic teams have collected more than 40 samples from the blast site, including mangled remains of the vehicle and human body parts. A special team of experts has been constituted to analyse the material and determine the nature of the explosives used.
Police said efforts are underway to trace Umar’s possible handlers and reconstruct his movements throughout the day to establish whether he had any accomplices.
