New Delhi: Delhi Police have pieced together the movements of Dr. Umar Nabi — the accused in Monday’s Red Fort blast that killed 13 people — tracing his route from Haryana to Delhi through extensive CCTV footage spanning more than 50 cameras.
According to investigators, Umar appeared to have planned his movements carefully to avoid detection. He was first seen leaving Faridabad early Monday, making several stops, including at a dhaba for food and at a mosque for prayers. Before returning toward Delhi, he also travelled to Firozpur Jhirka in Haryana.
Police said he took the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, where he spent the night inside his car. While he seemed to be avoiding populated areas, he did not appear panicked. CCTV cameras later captured him driving slowly toward Delhi, stopping once for tea and once to check his phone.
Umar re-entered Delhi through the Badarpur border the next morning, following the same route he had used earlier. Investigators said he appeared to have pre-planned each step, including his entry and exit points.
CCTV mapping shows Umar, driving a white Hyundai i20, crisscrossing Delhi between 8 am and 3 pm. After entering the city at 8:13 am, he moved through parts of southeast Delhi, Okhla, Connaught Place, east Delhi, central Delhi, and Ashok Vihar, where he stopped at a roadside eatery around noon. Police said he appeared calm while eating before resuming his drive.
He later headed toward central Delhi and visited a mosque near Asaf Ali Road, close to the Ramlila Maidan, where he stayed for nearly three hours. His phone activity during this time is being examined, as investigators suspect he may have received instructions.
At 3:19 pm, Umar parked his car near the Red Fort complex, where it remained for about three hours. Around 6:22 pm, he drove toward the Red Fort Metro Station area. At 6:52 pm, the car exploded, killing 13 people and injuring more than two dozen. Traffic cameras captured the blast, showing the slow-moving vehicle erupting into flames during rush hour.
Authorities have now compiled a detailed timeline of his movements using CCTV footage, toll data, GPS information, and mobile tower records.
Umar, previously known as an academically accomplished professional, had reportedly become radicalised over the past two years and was part of several suspicious messaging groups.
DNA samples collected from the blast site and matched with his mother’s sample confirmed that Umar was driving the vehicle that exploded, a police source said.
