CCTV Reveals Three Suspects Obtaining Pollution Certificate for Delhi Blast Vehicle Two Weeks Before Attack

The car involved in the incident changed ownership seven times, according to sources.

Recent CCTV footage has emerged showing three individuals obtaining a pollution certificate for the white Hyundai i20 that later exploded near Delhi's Red Fort on Monday evening, resulting in nine fatalities.

The surveillance video from October 29 at 4:20 pm captures the vehicle, bearing license plate HR 26CE7674, stationed beside a Pollution Under Control (PUC) booth. This was the same day the car was transferred to Dr. Umar Mohammad, the suspected suicide bomber. In the footage, a man in a shirt is observed conversing with officials. Shortly after, two additional men appear—one wearing a grey t-shirt and another in a white t-shirt carrying a backpack. One of these bearded individuals is believed to be Tariq Malik, who was reportedly involved in the car transaction.

The three individuals subsequently entered the vehicle and departed.

Previous footage showed the car entering the Red Fort parking area on Monday at 3:19 pm, with the suspected bomber's hand visible through the window. Another image depicts him apparently wearing a blue and black t-shirt. The vehicle departed around 6:30 pm.

Sources indicate that the suspected bomber remained inside the vehicle continuously during its time in the parking lot. Investigators believe he was either waiting for someone or anticipating instructions.

According to investigators, the original owner of the i20, Mohd Salman—who has been arrested—sold the vehicle to an individual named Devender in March. Devender subsequently sold it to Aamir Rashid, who transferred ownership to Umar Mohammad. Tariq was reportedly involved in this transaction chain.

The explosion occurred at 6:52 pm near the Red Fort Metro Station, leaving devastation in the busy area with mangled bodies and damaged vehicles. Disturbing scenes showed casualties on the ground and severed body parts. Security personnel quickly secured the location while ambulances transported numerous injured individuals to the nearby Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP).

The incident coincided with the discovery of 2,900 kg of explosives just 50 kilometers from the capital in Haryana's Faridabad. Sources suggest that Umar Mohammad reportedly panicked and triggered the explosion after authorities arrested two key associates of the operation—Dr. Mujammil Shakeel and Dr. Adil Rather—and confiscated the explosives.

He allegedly planned the attack with two additional accomplices and installed a detonator in the vehicle.

Sources further indicate that ammonium nitrate, the same substance discovered in Faridabad, was utilized in the explosion.