IPS Officer Vijay Sakhare Leads Special NIA Team Investigating Deadly Delhi Metro Blast

Vijay Sakhare, Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA), has been appointed to head a specialized 10-member team investigating the explosion near Delhi's Red Fort Metro Station that claimed nine lives.

The investigative team comprises an Inspector General of Police, two Deputy General of Police officers, three Superintendent of Police officers, and several DSP-level officials.

The NIA will take custody of all case documents related to the Jaish module from Jammu and Kashmir Police, Delhi Police, and Haryana Police to thoroughly investigate its operational capabilities and funding sources.

Investigators are currently analyzing over 1,000 CCTV recordings, monitoring social media platforms, and collecting mobile phone data from multiple locations across Delhi.

Vijay Sakhare is a 1996 batch Kerala cadre officer with previous experience as an Inspector General in the NIA. He was appointed as NIA Director General in September this year. Sources confirm he recently met with the Intelligence Bureau chief.

The Delhi blast case was transferred to the NIA on Tuesday following Union Home Minister Amit Shah's review of the investigation. The explosion occurred Monday at 6:52 pm, coinciding with the discovery of approximately 2,900 kg of explosives, including ammonium nitrate, in Haryana's Faridabad.

Sources suggest that the suspected suicide bomber, identified as Umar Mohammad, may have prematurely detonated the explosives after becoming alarmed by the arrest of two key module members - Dr. Muzammil Shakeel and Dr. Adil Rather - and the seizure of explosives.

Top intelligence sources told NDTV that preliminary assessment of the blast site indicates an accidental explosion, evidenced by the absence of a blast crater and projectiles.