Delhi Blast Suspect Amir Rashid Ali Remanded to 10-Day NIA Custody in Connection with Red Fort Attack

Delhi blast accused Amir Rashid Ali was produced before a Delhi court

New Delhi:

The Delhi court on Monday ordered a 10-day custody for Amir Rashid Ali, the first suspect arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the recent Delhi blast case.

Amir Rashid Ali, identified as the owner of the Hyundai i20 vehicle used in the explosion near Red Fort last week, was apprehended by the NIA on Sunday. The blast resulted in 13 fatalities. Following his arrest, he appeared before the principal district and sessions judge in Delhi.

As security personnel escorted Ali out of the courtroom, NDTV reporters confronted him with the question, "Who gave you the order to carry out the attack?" Despite facing the camera, the masked suspect remained silent and offered no response.

NIA given 10-day custody of Delhi 10/11 blast conspirator

The devastating explosion occurred on November 10 near the Red Fort Metro Station, causing thirteen deaths and numerous injuries.

According to the NIA, their investigation revealed that Ali, who resides in Samboora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pampore area, conspired with "suicide bomber" Umar Un Nabi to execute the terrorist attack.

The agency stated that Ali traveled to Delhi specifically to facilitate the acquisition of the vehicle that was later converted into a "vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED)" used in the attack, as detailed in their official statement released Sunday.

Through forensic investigation, the NIA identified the driver as Umar Un Nabi, a resident of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, who worked as an assistant professor in general medicine at Al-Falah University in Haryana's Faridabad.

Investigators have also seized another vehicle belonging to Umar and have questioned 73 witnesses so far, including blast survivors.

The NIA confirmed they are working collaboratively with Delhi Police, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, Uttar Pradesh Police, and various other agencies across different states.

The investigation continues as authorities follow multiple leads to "unearth the larger conspiracy" behind the bombing and identify additional suspects involved in the case.

Investigators have also discovered that Umar maintained connections with a "white collar" terror network that was previously exposed following the recovery of explosives, primarily in Faridabad, prior to the Delhi blast.