Delhi blast probe: Umar assembled bomb inside Red Fort car parking, fresh findings reveal coordinated plot

A central question for investigators was what Umar did during the three hours he remained inside the parking lot near Sunehri Masjid.

CCTV footage shows him entering the lot at 3:19 pm and exiting at 6:28 pm, just 24 minutes before the explosion ripped through Netaji Subhash Marg at around 6:52 pm.

Notably, the footage also confirmed that Umar never stepped out of his vehicle during those three hours — a detail that initially puzzled investigators but now aligns with their latest findings.

Handlers 'guided' him through Delhi

According to sources familiar with the probe, Umar remained in continuous contact with his handlers from the moment he entered Delhi that morning.

Investigators believe these conversations revolved around selecting the exact target location for the blast.

Before heading to Old Delhi, Umar drove through Mayur Vihar and Connaught Place, scouting possible spots.

Eventually, the parking area near the Red Fort was chosen — in part because of the monument’s deep symbolic value.

Red Fort closure forced a change of plan

However, neither Umar nor his handlers accounted for the fact that it was a Monday, the day the Red Fort remains closed to visitors.

As a result, the parking lot was largely deserted, undermining the plan to trigger the explosion there.

Dr Umar's Hyundai i-20, seconds before the explosion

Investigators say the group then pivoted quickly.

Instead of detonating the bomb inside the parking zone, they decided on Netaji Subhash Marg, a busy stretch flanked by the Red Fort on one side and bustling Chandni Chowk on the other.

The shift ensured maximum public impact.

Explosive assembled inside i-20

The probe now confirms that during his three-hour stay inside the parking lot, Umar quietly assembled the explosive device inside the Hyundai i-20, which later exploded at a red signal near the Red Fort.

Once the device was ready, he left the parking space and drove toward the crowded stretch.

The moment Dr Umar's white i-20 exploded at a red signal near Red Fort

Minutes later, the blast killed 13 people and injured 20 others, sending shockwaves across the Capital.

Triggering the blast out of panic

Investigators have earlier revealed that Umar was under mounting pressure after two of his close associates — doctors Muzammil and Shaheen — were arrested in connection with the recovery of 2,900 kg of explosives in Faridabad.

Fearing that he would soon be traced, Umar allegedly accelerated the plan and decided to execute the attack before authorities could close in.

With little time to spare, he drove into Delhi with the explosives-laden car, setting in motion a rushed and deadly operation that culminated in the blast.