7,500-page NIA chargesheet reveals alleged AQIS-linked conspiracy behind Red Fort blast

Rashmi Pandey — Thu, 14 May 2026 06:13:06 +0000

The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday filed a detailed 7,500-page chargesheet against 10 accused persons in connection with the deadly car bomb explosion near the Red Fort area in November 2025 that killed 11 people and injured several others.

The chargesheet was submitted before the NIA Special Court at Patiala House Courts and names all 10 accused, including the alleged main perpetrator Umer Un Nabi, who is reported to be deceased. According to the NIA, all the accused were linked to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), described as an offshoot of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent.

The case relates to the high-intensity Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) blast that took place on November 10, 2025, near the Red Fort area of the national capital. Investigators said the explosion caused extensive destruction to nearby property apart from claiming civilian lives and injuring several others. Security agencies had termed it one of the most serious terror attacks in Delhi in recent years.

According to the NIA, the chargesheet includes evidence related to the planning, execution, financing and logistical support behind the attack. Officials said investigators examined digital records, forensic evidence, CCTV footage, financial transactions, communication data and witness statements during the probe.

The agency alleged that the accused were part of a broader extremist network inspired by radical ideology and linked to AGuH operations in different regions. The organisation had earlier been associated with recruitment efforts, online propaganda and attempts to carry out attacks targeting security forces and public spaces.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had officially declared AQIS and all its manifestations as terrorist organisations in June 2018 under anti-terror laws. Investigators believe the Red Fort blast conspiracy was intended to create panic and destabilise public security in the capital.

Following the explosion last year, multiple security agencies launched coordinated operations across Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and several other states to trace suspected operatives and support networks. The investigation also reportedly involved intelligence inputs related to encrypted communication channels and cross-border terror links.

Officials said the filing of the chargesheet marks a major stage in the investigation, though further probes into suspected associates and financial trails are continuing. The case is expected to proceed before the NIA Special Court in the coming weeks.

The Red Fort area, a high-security and historically significant zone in Delhi, remains under enhanced surveillance following the attack. Security agencies have since strengthened monitoring of crowded public locations and strategic installations across the national capital.

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7,500-page NIA chargesheet reveals alleged AQIS-linked conspiracy behind Red Fort blast