Dr Umar Nabi
NEW DELHI: DNA samples of the mother and brother of Dr Umar Nabi, the prime suspect in the Delhi blast case, have been collected and sent to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) forensic laboratory for analysis, officials said on Wednesday.Click here for live updates The samples will be compared with the remains of bodies preserved at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital to confirm identification and determine the fate of Nabi, who was allegedly driving the Hyundai i20 when a powerful explosion occurred outside Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort (Lal Qila) metro station at 6:52 pm on Monday. Dr Sudhir Gupta, Head of Forensic Medicine at AIIMS Delhi, told news agency ANI that DNA profiling is the “gold standard” in forensic science for identifying individuals and establishing biological relationships.Also Read | ‘White-collar terror module, red car’: What’s emerging in Delhi blast probe – key points“This is a powerful tool for identifying suspects, victims, and establishing biological relationships,” Dr Gupta said. “It is used in criminal investigations, disaster victim identification, and paternity testing.”Explaining the process, he added that DNA is extracted from samples such as blood, hair, or skin cells and specific regions are amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The analysis focuses on Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) — repeating DNA sequences that vary from person to person — to create a unique genetic fingerprint. The profile is then compared with reference samples for identification.Also Read | Delhi Red Fort blast probe: Doctor Nisar-ul-Hassan, fired by J&K governor for terror links in 2023, ‘taught’ at Faridabad’s Al-Falah UniversityGupta further described DNA profiling as “crucial” also in disaster victim identification, such as during earthquakes or tsunamis, where remains are matched with samples from family members. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) had earlier collected DNA samples from Nabi’s mother. According to Delhi Police sources, Umar was seen driving the same vehicle on the Mumbai Expressway and the Kundli–Manesar–Palwal (KMP) Expressway before entering Delhi. Investigators are now mapping the car’s movements and ownership trail.Also Read | Delhi blast: TMC MP raises issue in House panel; chairperson refuses discussion – report At least eight people were killed and several others injured in the blast — what, if confirmed, would be the first terrorist attack in Delhi since 2011.