A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has prolonged the judicial custody of individuals accused in the Red Fort blast case, which occurred in November 2025. The hearing took place on August 4 at the Rouse Avenue court complex in New Delhi. Following the proceedings, the custody of nine accused individuals, including Dr Shaheen Saeed, was extended until August 12. The case has garnered significant attention due to the fatal consequences of the explosion.

Details of the Incident and Accusations

The blast, described as a high-intensity Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) explosion, allegedly resulted in the fatalities of eleven individuals and injured numerous others. In addition, the incident caused considerable damage to property located near the Red Fort. The NIA has previously filed a comprehensive charge sheet, which spans over 7,500 pages, implicating ten individuals in connection with the blast.

Among those charged is Dr Umer Un Nabi, identified as the alleged principal conspirator, who is reported to have died. The other accused persons include Aamir Rashid Mir, Jasir Bilal Wani, Dr Muzamil Shakeel, Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather, Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay, Soyab, Dr Bilal Naseer Malla, and Yasir Ahmad Dar. The charge sheet includes details that outline their alleged involvement with Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), a group associated with Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), classified as a terrorist organisation by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2018.

The accusations prompt concerns stemming from an alleged larger conspiracy orchestrated by radicalised individuals, including medical professionals. This group is said to have been inspired by the ideologies of AQIS and AGuH, aiming to destabilise the current government and establish a regime based on Sharia law.

Extent of the Investigation

The NIA’s investigation has reportedly traversed multiple states, including Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and the National Capital Region (Delhi-NCR). The agency claims the prosecution’s complaint incorporates a substantial collection of evidence, including 588 oral testimonies, over 395 documents, and more than 200 exhibits seized during the inquiry.

Part of the investigation has focused on the alleged operations titled “Operation Heavenly Hind.” The NIA alleges that the accused worked to recruit members, disseminate extremist ideology, stockpile weapons, and manufacture explosives using commercially obtainable chemicals. They reportedly conducted experiments to create Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), the explosive substance purportedly utilised in the blast.

Furthermore, investigators allege that there was illegal procurement of prohibited firearms, including AK-47s, Krinkov rifles, and country-made pistols. The tactics of the group allegedly extended to developing rocket-based and drone-mounted improvised explosive devices targeting security establishments. Advanced scientific methods, including DNA fingerprinting and voice analysis, aided in identifying Dr Umer Un Nabi as one of those involved, despite his reported death.

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