CCTV footage HT accessed first purportedly shows the i20 car in the outer circle of Connaught Place before showing him in black attire walking
New Delhi, November 10, 2025 —
The investigation into Monday evening’s blast near Delhi’s historic Red Fort has revealed alarming new details about the final movements of Umar Un Nabi, the prime suspect believed to be behind the explosion that killed at least 13 people and injured several others.
Fresh CCTV footage accessed by Delhi Police paints a chilling picture of Nabi’s journey across the city — from Connaught Place to Turkman Gate, hours before his Hyundai i20 car exploded near the iconic monument.
Tracked Across 25 CCTV Cameras
According to senior Delhi Police officials, the i20 car’s route was reconstructed using footage from over 25 CCTV cameras, starting from a toll plaza near Dhauj village in Haryana’s Mewat district, just after midnight on Sunday.
The vehicle was next spotted at Asian Hospital in Faridabad around 7:25 a.m. on Monday, suggesting Nabi had entered Delhi in the early hours of the day.
At 8:20 a.m., the car was recorded refueling at a petrol station in Kalkaji, before heading toward the DND Flyway, entering the capital through the southern corridor.
Police have confirmed that the vehicle’s movements were later lost for nearly five hours between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., a “blackout period” when the car appeared to vanish from surveillance systems. Investigators suspect Nabi may have parked the car at a secluded location during this time, possibly preparing the explosive device.
At Connaught Place: Calm Before the Storm
The next confirmed sighting comes from Connaught Place’s E Block, where CCTV cameras captured the i20 parked along the outer circle.
Footage reviewed by investigators and shared with forensic teams shows Nabi exiting the car, walking around it for nearly ten minutes, and inspecting its exterior before leaving.
“He appeared calm and composed,” said a Delhi Police officer. “He was wearing black pants, a black shirt, and brown leather sandals. There was no sign of panic. He wasn’t using his phone or interacting with anyone.”
The footage, which time-stamped his presence at Connaught Place around 2:15 p.m., offers investigators one of the clearest visual confirmations of the suspect before the explosion.
At Turkman Gate Mosque: A Quiet Prayer
Following his brief stop at Connaught Place, Umar Un Nabi was next seen at the Faiz Ilahi Masjid, located near Turkman Gate, at approximately 2:30 p.m.
In the video, he can be seen entering the mosque alone, praying quietly for about 10–15 minutes, and then exiting.
A senior investigating officer stated:
“The footage confirms he was alone throughout his visit. There’s no evidence of any accomplice meeting him at the mosque.”
When police later visited the mosque to verify Nabi’s presence, Abdul Salim, a staff member, said officers showed them footage of a white car and the accused’s image.
“We couldn’t recall seeing him that day, but we cooperated fully with the investigation,” he added.
Final Hours Before the Explosion
After Turkman Gate, Nabi’s car was spotted at multiple key locations:
- RK Ashram Marg Metro Station (around 2 p.m.)
- Connaught Place Outer Circle (again at 2:15 p.m.)
- Minto Road and Daryaganj market (by 2:50 p.m.)
The i20 then entered the Red Fort parking area near Sunehri Masjid at 3:19 p.m. and remained there for over three hours.
According to timestamped footage, the car exited at 6:22 p.m. — barely 30 minutes before it exploded near the Lal Qila traffic signal at 6:52 p.m.
Witnesses said they heard a “massive bang” followed by thick smoke and flames engulfing several nearby vehicles. The impact shattered windows and left a crater near the road divider.
The Blast and Immediate Response
Emergency teams rushed to the site within minutes.
The National Security Guard (NSG) and Delhi Fire Service cordoned off the area, while the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) was called in to collect samples.
Initial reports suggested that the explosion originated inside the vehicle, but investigators are yet to determine whether it was caused by a timer-based device, a remote detonation, or a mechanical failure.
Police sources, however, say the blast’s intensity and damage pattern are consistent with high-grade explosives rather than a gas cylinder or fuel leak.
“The car’s rear end was completely destroyed, which aligns with the hypothesis of an explosive placed inside the trunk,” one official noted.
Who Is Umar Un Nabi?
Investigators have identified Umar Un Nabi as a 35-year-old doctor from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, with a medical degree from a private college.
While his professional background initially diverted suspicion, forensic recovery of documents, chemical residues, and a damaged electronic circuit board from the blast site has deepened the mystery.
Sources say Nabi had been living in Delhi for the past few months, occasionally visiting Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh.
Police are probing whether he had links to radical groups or was acting independently.
Broader Context: A Week of Security Alerts
The Delhi Red Fort blast occurred just a day after Pakistani security forces foiled a terror plot targeting an army-run college in Wana city near the Afghan border, and hours before a blast outside a local court in Islamabad killed at least 12 people.
Intelligence agencies are examining possible cross-border coordination, though no official link has yet been established.
An officer in Delhi’s counterterrorism unit said:
“The proximity of these incidents, both in timing and nature, raises legitimate questions. We’re not ruling out any angle.”
Investigation Under UAPA and Explosives Act
A case has been registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Substances Act.
Two individuals who previously owned the Hyundai i20 have been detained for questioning to trace the car’s transfer history.
Preliminary investigations show that the car changed hands several times in the past year, with gaps in documentation.
Police are also verifying whether the number plates had been forged.
Public Reaction and Security Concerns
The explosion near Red Fort — one of India’s most visited heritage sites — has triggered widespread concern.
Security has been tightened around major monuments, metro stations, and government buildings across Delhi.
Tourist areas such as India Gate, Jama Masjid, and Connaught Place have seen increased patrolling by Delhi Police and CRPF personnel.
Officials have also urged citizens to report unattended vehicles or suspicious activity immediately.
Political leaders have demanded a fair investigation. Opposition parties have called for the government to improve counterterrorism infrastructure and address security weaknesses that allowed the incident to happen in the nation’s capital.
The Future
Investigators are in a hurry to determine whether Umar Un Nabi acted alone or was part of a larger network, as forensic teams examine chemical traces and reconstruct the blast dynamics.
Delhi remains on high alert.
The Red Fort explosion, occurring at a time of increased regional tension, has once more highlighted the weaknesses of urban security systems and emphasized the necessity of improved surveillance integration and real-time data analysis.
Police have promised that “every frame of footage” is being analyzed and that “no stone will be left unturned.”
