Hyundai i20 Used in Delhi Terror Attack: Complete Timeline of the Vehicle's Journey Through Multiple Owners

The Hyundai i20 was spotted in Faridabad before the incident.

The Hyundai i20 that detonated near Red Fort was acquired from a Haryana-based automobile dealer for Rs 1.70 lakh, intended for Dr Umar Mohammad to execute the terrorist attack this week.

Intelligence sources reveal that the vehicle, which changed ownership five times over an 11-year period, was purchased by Aamir Rashid, who subsequently transferred it to Mohammad. Aamir, employed by the Jammu & Kashmir power development department in Pulwama, has been detained for allegedly assisting Mohammad in the plot.

Aamir acquired the vehicle from a Haryana dealer named Sonu through the OLX platform on October 29, paying an additional Rs 10,000 commission. Sources indicate that Sonu was given approximately one month to complete the registration certificate transfer process, but the explosion occurred before this deadline passed.

The commission payment was apparently intended to circumvent the standard registration transfer procedure, which typically requires 20-25 days for completion.

Aamir submitted documentation with a Pulwama address when purchasing the automobile. The vehicle was subsequently handed over to Mohammad, who positioned it near the Red Fort Metro Station before it exploded, resulting in 13 fatalities.

THE VEHICLE'S OWNERSHIP HISTORY

The Hyundai i20, bearing registration number HR26CE7674, was manufactured in 2013. The initial purchaser was Nadeem, who acquired it from a Gurugram showroom on March 18, 2014.

The vehicle was subsequently sold to and registered under Salman, a Gurugram resident, in 2014, with the registration certificate identifying him as the second owner.

When authorities contacted Salman following the explosion, he stated that he had sold the vehicle to Devendra, an Okhla resident. Devendra reported selling it to Amit Patel in Faridabad, who later transferred ownership to Aamir on October 29.

From Aamir, the vehicle was passed to Mohammad, who was employed at Al-Falah University in Faridabad. DNA analysis has confirmed that Umar was operating the vehicle when the explosion occurred, according to intelligence sources.

The vehicle's pollution certificate had expired, which prompted the suspect to visit a petrol station in Faridabad to obtain updated documentation.

Despite the vehicle changing ownership multiple times and crossing state boundaries, it remained officially registered in Salman's name. Industry insiders note that this practice is not uncommon in the used car market, where vehicles are frequently bought and sold without re-registration to avoid documentation expenses.

Criminal elements often seek vehicles with minimal documentation to avoid being traced. Used car dealers, aiming to reduce costs, frequently bypass the registration process as well. Consequently, when crimes involve such vehicles, investigators are initially led to the original registered owner.