New CCTV footage accessed by media has revealed chilling details of the final hours of Dr Umar Nabi, the suicide bomber behind the November 10 car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort. The visuals show Umar stepping out of his white Hyundai i20 near a mosque in the national capital, offering namaz, and then returning to his vehicle shortly before the blast that claimed 12 lives.
The footage, recorded just hours before the explosion, is being carefully examined by Delhi Police’s Special Cell and National Investigation Agency (NIA) teams. Investigators are now tracing his last movements, particularly any possible communication or meeting that may have occurred before he detonated the explosives.
According to officials quoted by media, the car bomb near Metro Gate No. 1 at Chandni Chowk, close to the Red Fort, was a “Fidayeen-style” suicide attack, carried out using a large quantity of high-grade explosives. The intensity of the blast was such that it completely destroyed the car and damaged nearby shops and vehicles, leaving a scene of devastation in the heart of Delhi’s heritage zone.
Security agencies have since cordoned off multiple locations connected to Umar, including his residence in Faridabad, his office at Al-Falah University, and properties in Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir, where he originally hailed from.
Investigations have revealed that Dr Umar Nabi, originally from Pulwama district in south Kashmir, was working as a faculty member at Al-Falah University, a private institution in Faridabad, Haryana. The university is already under the scanner following earlier reports linking it to suspicious activities after the seizure of 2,900 kg of explosive materials in Haryana last month.
According to the investigators, Umar’s academic background and professional role helped him avoid suspicion while planning the attack. He had reportedly joined the university earlier this year and was described by colleagues as “quiet but distant.”
The Delhi Police have confirmed through DNA testing that the remains found in the exploded car belonged to Dr Umar Nabi. Forensic experts compared bone and dental samples recovered from the wreckage with genetic samples taken from his mother in Pulwama.
An official told media, “The DNA report conclusively matches Umar Nabi’s samples with his mother’s. There is no doubt now that he was the one inside the vehicle when the blast occurred.”
Initial reports from the site indicated that Umar’s leg was trapped between the steering wheel and the accelerator when the explosion went off, suggesting he was seated in the driver’s seat at the time of detonation.
Investigators are now probing whether Umar acted alone or was part of a larger network. Central intelligence agencies, including the NIA, are coordinating with Delhi Police’s Special Cell and Haryana ATS to identify any associates who may have helped assemble or transport the explosives.
Sources have told DD News that the blast has triggered a multi-agency investigation, focusing on potential links between Umar’s time at Al-Falah University and extremist operatives active in north India. Forensic teams are examining call records, social media profiles, and bank transactions to trace financial trails related to the attack.
The CCTV clip showing Umar stepping out of his i20 car near a mosque is now one of the key pieces of evidence. Officials are examining whether he met anyone during his visit or used the mosque premises to send coded messages before the explosion.
A senior Delhi Police officer told News18, “The CCTV footage helps us map his last route and stops before the blast. We are sanitizing all touchpoints and verifying whether he received logistical or moral support from anyone.”
According to the footage timestamp, Umar parked his vehicle around 2:30 p.m. and walked into the mosque for a short duration. The explosion occurred several hours later, around 7:45 p.m., near the Chandni Chowk Metro station.
The case has reignited concerns about terror infiltration through academic institutions, particularly in light of recent revelations involving individuals linked to Al-Falah University in Faridabad. The institution is already under probe after earlier intelligence alerts suggested possible radical activities within its campus.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is closely monitoring the developments, with preliminary inputs indicating that the attack could be part of a larger plot designed to target crowded heritage and religious sites in Delhi ahead of the festive season.
Post-blast forensic analysis revealed traces of PETN and RDX, both military-grade explosives. Investigators believe the materials were sourced through an interstate network spanning Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, and Delhi.
The NIA is expected to take over the case formally once the initial forensic review is completed. Meanwhile, Delhi Police has tightened security across sensitive zones, especially near Central Delhi’s Red Fort complex, Jama Masjid, and Connaught Place, in anticipation of further threats.
The revelation of Umar Nabi’s role and his professional background has sparked widespread debate on social media. Several commentators and political leaders have called for a deeper investigation into radicalisation within educational institutions.
The Delhi Police Commissioner, addressing the press late Tuesday, assured that “no stone will be left unturned in tracing every individual connected to this attack.” The VHP and other civic groups have demanded a comprehensive audit of private universities that employ or admit individuals from sensitive regions without adequate background verification.
With DNA confirmation establishing Dr Umar Nabi as the suicide bomber and CCTV footage revealing his movements before the blast, the investigation into the Red Fort car explosion has entered a critical phase.
As agencies continue to unravel the network behind the attack, the incident has raised pressing questions about radical infiltration in academia, inter-state terror coordination, and security loopholes in the national capital, issues that now demand urgent policy review and preventive oversight.
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