A calm Monday evening in Delhi turned into chaos after a white Hyundai i20 exploded on Netaji Subhash Marg near the historic Red Fort, killing eight people — including all three occupants of the car.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the car had been parked for nearly two hours at the Sunehri Masjid parking lot, close to the Red Fort, before the blast occurred.
What CCTV Footage Reveals
According to investigators reviewing CCTV footage, the Hyundai i20 was first seen driving from Daryaganj Market toward the Sunehri Masjid parking area around 4 PM. After remaining there for nearly two hours, it was seen exiting the lot, taking a U-turn near Old Delhi Railway Station, and heading toward Lower Subhash Marg.
Moments later, the vehicle slowed down at a traffic signal near Chhata Rail Chowk, where it suddenly exploded, sending shockwaves through one of Delhi’s busiest areas.
“The footage shows the car slowing down at the signal just before the explosion,” an officer involved in the probe told HT on condition of anonymity.
Car’s Complex Ownership Trail
Investigators said the vehicle bore a Haryana registration number HR26CE7674 and had changed ownership multiple times since its registration in 2014.
The car was initially registered to a Gurugram resident, Mohd Salman, who later sold it to a person named Devender, and then to another buyer in Ambala.
“The registered owner has been detained in Delhi, but the car was resold two to three times. We are still tracing the current owner,” a senior police official confirmed.
A copy of the vehicle’s Registration Certificate (RC) obtained by HT supports these details. Ambala and Gurugram Police are now assisting Delhi Police in the parallel investigation.
NIA and Multi-Agency Probe Launched
Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that a multi-agency investigation is underway, involving the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Delhi Police’s Anti-Terror Unit.
“A comprehensive probe is being conducted from all possible angles. The findings will be shared with the public in due course,” Shah said while addressing the media.
Following the explosion, security across Delhi has been tightened, with CISF and Delhi Police personnel deployed at key government offices, metro stations, and Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Authorities also temporarily closed Gates 1 and 4 of Lal Qila Metro Station on the Violet Line due to proximity to the blast site.
Visuals and Impact
Early visuals from the site show mangled car debris scattered across the road, shattered glass, and damaged nearby vehicles. Fire and forensic teams are on-site, collecting samples to determine whether the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) or mechanical failure.
Emergency response teams have cordoned off the area, while traffic diversions have been implemented on Netaji Subhash Marg and adjoining roads.
