In the crucial hunt for the perpetrators behind the fatal car blast near the Red Fort Metro Station, the focus of the investigation has narrowed down to the ownership chain of the destroyed vehicle. Delhi Police, working swiftly, have detained at least two former owners of the Hyundai i20 that exploded, revealing a complex trail that spans from Gurugram across the National Capital Region (NCR) and potentially links to Ambala.
The high-intensity blast, which killed at least eight people and injured over 20, is being probed for a terror angle, making the exact identity of the car’s final handler the most vital piece of the puzzle.
The Unravelling of the Car’s Sales History
The destroyed white Hyundai i20 bore a Haryana registration number plate, allowing investigators to quickly trace its original owner through RTO records.
- Original Owner Detained: Police detained Md. Salman, a resident of Shanti Nagar, Gurugram (Haryana), who was the car’s original registered owner. Salman, who claims he sold the car due to financial difficulty, was immediately handed over to Delhi Police for questioning.
- The First Resale: Salman informed investigators that he sold the 2013-model car about eighteen months ago to a man named Devender, a resident of Okhla, Delhi. Devender has also been detained by Delhi Police.
- The Murky Trail: According to statements gathered by police, the vehicle was sold at least one more time to someone in Ambala. Critically, during these multiple sales, the official transfer of ownership was not completed, leaving the registration in Md. Salman’s name—a common tactic to obscure the vehicle’s true handler.
Investigators are now meticulously working with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and coordinating with police in Haryana and Delhi to establish the complete chain of ownership up to the moment of the blast.
Why the Car’s History is Critical to the Terror Probe
The complex ownership trail is highly significant, particularly when viewed in the context of the nearby Faridabad terror module bust.
- Obfuscation of Identity: The failure to transfer ownership suggests a deliberate attempt to create a legal dead end, pointing to criminal or terror intent on the part of the final buyer.
- Tracking Movement: Investigators are analyzing ANPR (Automated Number Plate Recognition) camera footage, which last spotted the car in Southeast Delhi’s Badarpur in June. The detained individuals are being pressed for information regarding the car’s movements and occupants in the immediate hours before it was seen entering a Red Fort parking lot on Monday afternoon.
- Pulwama Link Under Investigation: Although not confirmed by Delhi Police, sources indicate that one of the later buyers was allegedly linked to Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. If confirmed, this establishes a nexus between the attack and regions associated with militant operations, elevating the case to a matter of high national security.
Home Minister Amit Shah has confirmed that all angles, including the car’s complete ownership and sale history, are being thoroughly probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Special Cell teams. The primary goal is to determine who had final control of the vehicle and placed the deadly explosive device inside the car.
