NIA granted 45-day extension in Red Fort blast probe

A Delhi court on Friday (March 27, 2026) granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) an additional 45 days to complete its probe into the Red Fort blast of November 10, 2025, which left 14 people dead and several others injured.

Special Judge Prashant Sharma of the Patiala House Court allowed the extension following a request by the central agency. The NIA, in its plea, cited the need for further investigation in light of the recent arrests of Zamir Ahmed Ahangar and Tufail Ahmad Bhat.

The agency had earlier secured a 45-day extension on February 13. With the law permitting extensions up to 180 days beyond the initial 90-day investigation period, this is the second such extension granted in the case.

According to the NIA, the blast was allegedly orchestrated by a terror module led by a group of doctors who had been searching for a suicide bomber for nearly a year. Umar-un-Nabi, identified as the main accused, was allegedly driving the explosive-laden Hyundai i20 that detonated in the Capital.

In the aftermath of the incident, the NIA arrested around 11 individuals accused of facilitating the attack, providing logistical support, harbouring suspects, and attempting to destroy evidence linked to the case.