NEW DELHI: Patiala house court on Monday allowed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to cremate or otherwise dispose of the biological remains of 11 people killed in the November 2025 car bomb explosion near the Red Fort.The court observed that the remains should be handled with dignity and in accordance with the victims’ religious beliefs, news agency PTI reported.Special NIA Judge Pitambar Dutt also permitted the agency to dispose of the biological remains of Dr Umer Un Nabi, the alleged suicide bomber who died after driving the explosive-laden vehicle into the crowded area.The court directed the NIA to ensure that the disposal of the remains is carried out with due respect while taking into account the religious beliefs of those who died.It also asked the agency to file a compliance report after carrying out the process.During the hearing, the NIA informed the court that all necessary forensic examinations had already been completed on the recovered body parts of both the victims and Nabi.The agency said the remains had begun to decompose and sought permission to dispose of them.
Red Fort blast investigation
The case relates to the high-intensity Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) blast near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10, 2025, which killed 11 people.The incident also injured several others and caused extensive damage to nearby property, news agency ANI reported.The court’s order comes as the investigation into the alleged terror conspiracy has expanded considerably over the past few months.The NIA had filed its first chargesheet on May 14, naming 10 accused, including Nabi, who has been identified as the alleged mastermind and suicide bomber.Since he died in the blast, the agency has proposed that proceedings against him be abated.Last month, the agency filed a supplementary chargesheet against three more accused, including an absconding paediatrician alleged to be a founding member of the terror module, taking the total number of chargesheeted persons to 13.The supplementary chargesheet named Zamir Ahmed Ahangar, Tufail Ahmed Bhat and one absconding accused.Zamir and Tufail were arrested in February 2026.According to the NIA, the two were allegedly involved in collecting arms and ammunition and were associated with Ansar Ghazawat-ul-Hind (AGuH).
Alleged terror conspiracy
The agency has invoked provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Explosive Substances Act, the Arms Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.According to the NIA, all the accused were linked to Ansar Ghazawat-ul-Hind, an offshoot of Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), which was designated a terrorist organisation by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2018.The investigation alleges that members of the module reorganised the outfit as “AGuH Interim” during a secret meeting in Srinagar in 2022 and launched a conspiracy codenamed “Operation Heavenly Hind”, allegedly aimed at overthrowing the democratically elected government and establishing Sharia rule.The agency has claimed the accused recruited members, propagated extremist ideology, procured prohibited weapons, stockpiled explosives and manufactured Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) after conducting multiple experiments using commercially available chemicals.
Evidence gathered by NIA
According to the NIA, the investigation, spanning Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, is backed by 588 witness statements, nearly 400 documentary exhibits and over 200 seized material exhibits.The agency has also relied on scientific evidence, including DNA fingerprinting and voice analysis, to establish the identity and role of the deceased accused, Dr Umer Un Nabi.(With agency inputs)
