New Delhi, May 14: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has submitted a nearly 7,500-page chargesheet against 10 accused in connection with the car bomb explosion near the Red Fort area that took place on November 10 last year. The blast claimed 11 lives, injured several others, and caused major property damage in the national capital.
According to the NIA, all 10 accused, including the alleged mastermind Dr. Umer Un Nabi, who is deceased, were associated with Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), described as an offshoot of Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). The Ministry of Home Affairs had declared AQIS and its affiliates as terrorist organisations in 2018.The agency stated that the chargesheet has been filed under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act, and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Besides Dr. Nabi, the accused named in the chargesheet are Aamir Rashid Mir, Jasir Bilal Wani, Dr. Muzamil Shakeel, Dr. Adeel Ahmed Rather, Dr. Shaheen Saeed, Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay, Soyab, Dr. Bilal Naseer Malla, and Yasir Ahmad Dar. Charges against Dr. Nabi are proposed to be abated due to his death.The investigation, which spanned Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and the Delhi-NCR region, relied on 588 witness statements, nearly 400 documents, and over 200 seized exhibits.
The NIA alleged that some of the accused, including radicalised medical professionals, were influenced by AQIS/AGuH ideology and had regrouped under a new faction named “AGuH Interim” after an unsuccessful attempt to travel to Afghanistan through Turkey.Investigators claim the group launched a conspiracy titled “Operation Heavenly Hind,” allegedly aimed at overthrowing the Indian government and establishing Sharia rule.
As part of the operation, the accused allegedly recruited members, spread extremist ideology, stockpiled weapons, and manufactured explosives using commercially available chemicals.The probe found that the explosive used in the blast was Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), allegedly prepared through secret procurement of materials and repeated experimentation.
The NIA further stated that the accused had tested different types of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including drone-mounted and rocket-based systems, and had illegally acquired weapons such as AK-47 rifles, Krinkov rifles, and country-made pistols.Investigators also recovered laboratory equipment, electrical components, and specialised materials allegedly used in bomb-making activities from locations linked to the accused, including sites in Faridabad and Jammu & Kashmir.
The agency confirmed that Dr. Umer Un Nabi’s identity was established through DNA analysis. Forensic examinations, voice analysis, and evidence recovered from multiple locations formed a significant part of the investigation.So far, 11 individuals have been arrested in the case, while efforts are continuing to trace absconding suspects allegedly connected to the conspiracy.