The Red Fort blast case moved forward today as a Delhi court took cognisance of the 7,500-page chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). It was submitted in May and details the agency’s investigation of the deadly explosion near the Red Fort area. Special Judge Prashant Sharma of Rouse Avenue Courts took cognisance of the chargesheet while a detailed order on the matter is yet to be issued.
The court has set September 9 for further proceedings such as compliance under Section 230 of BNSS to be carried out. The accused will have to provide copies of the chargesheet and other documents.
It took place on November 10 last year when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device exploded close to Lal Quila Metro Station. It led to an explosion that sent cars and houses crashing into one another, destroying properties. At least 11 people were killed and others injured.
The investigation also found Umar-un-Nabi, a doctor from Jammu and Kashmir, to be a key accused in the case. According to NIA investigations, Nabi was in the vehicle with explosives when it detonated near the Red Fort.
The day after the blast, the NIA had a case registered under Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act. The investigation was subsequently extended to the alleged conspiracy, financing, logistical assistance and other forms of support used in the attack.
By December last year, the agency had arrested nine people who were allegedly involved in conspiring to carry out the attack or providing technical and logistical assistance to Nabi. Some of those arrested were allegedly linked to Al-Falah University in Faridabad, where they had worked or taught.
The NIA has so far filed two chargesheets before the court in connection with the case. The investigation has alleged that the blast was the result of a larger conspiracy called “Operation Heavenly Hind.” Preparations for the alleged operation began in 2022, the agency said.
The investigation continued even after the filing of the initial chargesheet. The NIA had already filed a supplementary chargesheet naming three more accused. With the new names, the total number of accused persons named in the case has now risen to 13.
The agency named Nabi as the main accused and claimed that he masterminded the attack with the help of a network of radicalised people. This network was made up of doctors, facilitators and officials who worked with them in logistics and logistics management, NIA said.
The prosecution was represented by Special Public Prosecutor Madhav Khurana and advocate Trisha Mittal in the court. The court’s decision to consider the chargesheet will allow the judicial process to proceed to the next steps including examination and the submission of evidence by the accused.
The court had earlier this month allowed the NIA to dispose of biological remains recovered from the blast site, including body parts of victims and the alleged suicide bomber’s body parts, within the forensic unit. The agency had approached the court requesting permission for the disposal of remains because they were gradually decomposing and were being kept with the forensic unit.
The prosecution claimed that the biological remains had already been examined by forensic examination and that no further preservation was necessary. The court, after hearing the application, said the remains should be disposed of with dignity and according to the religious beliefs of the deceased.
The Red Fort blast investigation remains a major terror-related case before the Delhi courts, with the huge chargesheet listing the alleged conspiracy and the roles of the accused. The September 9 hearing will focus on compliance with the legal requirement to provide the accused with the relevant case documents.
