The car bomb explosion near Delhi's Red Fort on November 10, 2025, killed at least 11 people and injured several others. One year later, the investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reached the charge-framing stage, while the money-laundering investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is at the pre-trial stage.

Why in the News?

On November 11, 2026, an assessment of the investigation into the Red Fort blast highlighted the progress made by the NIA and ED. The NIA has filed chargesheets against 13 accused persons, including the alleged main perpetrator, Umer Un Nabi.

  • The ED has filed a prosecution complaint and provisionally attached assets linked to alleged financial irregularities at Al-Falah University.

Red Fort Blast: What Happened?

On November 10, 2025, a car bomb exploded near Delhi's Red Fort. The driver was identified as Umer Un Nabi, a doctor from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.

  • He was an assistant professor linked to Al-Falah University, Faridabad, Haryana.
  • His identity was confirmed through DNA fingerprinting.
  • The NIA accused him of being the main perpetrator of the blast.

Investigation and Enforcement Action

Initially, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Kotwali Police Station. The case was registered under the provisions of:

  • Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)
  • Explosive Substances Act
  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)

Police and forensic teams collected evidence from the blast site. The following day, the Union Home Ministry transferred the case to the NIA to investigate the alleged wider conspiracy.

  • The Delhi Police Special Cell registered a separate case.
  • The Crime Branch also registered two FIRs involving Al-Falah University and its management over alleged irregularities and misrepresentation related to accreditation and recognition.

Arrests in the Case

The investigation was linked to an earlier operation by the Jammu and Kashmir Police against an alleged inter-State terror module. The NIA and other investigating agencies arrested the following accused:

StageAccused arrested
Initial arrestsAmir Rashid Ali and Jasir Bilal Wani
Subsequent arrestsMuzammil Shakeel Ganai, Adeel Ahmed Rather, Shaheen Saeed and Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay
Further arrestsSoyab, Dr. Bilal Naseer Malla and Yasir Ahmad Dar
February 2026Zameer Ahmad Ahangar and Tufail Ahmad Bhat

NIA Chargesheets and Allegations

On May 14, 2026, the NIA filed a 7,500-page chargesheet against nine arrested accused and Umer Un Nabi. According to the NIA, the accused were associated with Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), an offshoot of the banned terror outfit Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

  • The agency alleged that the accused had formed an organisation called AGuH Interim in 2022 after a meeting in Srinagar.
  • The chargesheet was based on:
    • 588 witness statements
    • More than 395 documents
    • 200 seized material exhibits
  • On June 27, 2026, the NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet against three more accused.
  • This took the total number of arraigned persons to 13.
  • A Delhi court took cognisance of the chargesheets in August 2026.
  • The case is currently at the charge-framing stage before a special Delhi court.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) Investigation

The ED initiated a money-laundering investigation based on FIRs registered by the Delhi Police concerning alleged irregularities at Al-Falah University and its managing trust.

Major Actions Taken by the ED:

  • November 18, 2025: The ED arrested Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, chairman and managing trustee of Al-Falah Group. The agency alleged that the university had misrepresented its accreditation and regulatory recognition.
  • January 16, 2026: The ED filed a prosecution complaint against Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui and Al-Falah Charitable Trust. The agency also provisionally attached the university's Faridabad campus, valued at approximately ₹144.09 crore.
  • In April 2026, additional assets worth approximately ₹39.45 crore were provisionally attached.

Alleged Proceeds of Crime:

  • The ED alleged that the Trust and university generated ₹493.24 crore in proceeds of crime between 2016-17 and 2024-25.
  • The alleged amount was generated through fraudulent representations about accreditation and regulatory recognition.
  • The ED's case is currently at the pre-trial stage.

Current Status of the Investigation

AgencyInvestigationPresent Status
NIAAlleged terror conspiracy behind the Red Fort blastCharge-framing stage
EDAlleged money laundering and financial irregularities linked to Al-Falah UniversityPre-trial stage

Conclusion

The Red Fort blast investigation has revealed alleged links between a terror conspiracy and an earlier inter-State terror module. The NIA's chargesheets and the ED's financial investigation have advanced the legal proceedings. However, the case is still before the courts. Effective prosecution, a thorough investigation and stronger security measures remain important to prevent such incidents and maintain public confidence in national security institutions.