The Hyundai i20 car used in the blast
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police Special Cell has detained a Faridabad-based car dealer who allegedly facilitated the sale of the Hyundai i20 used in the explosion near the Red Fort earlier this week, officials said on Wednesday.Click here for live updates
The dealer, identified as Amit, owns Royal Car Plaza in Faridabad’s Sector 37 and was detained late Monday night, hours after the blast, with assistance from local police, according to PTI. At least 8 were killed and scores injured in what, if confirmed, will be the first terrorist attack in the capital since 2011.Also Read | Delhi blast: PM Modi meets victims at LNJP Hospital; to hold key security meet soon“Amit is being questioned. The team is tracing the entire ownership trail of the Hyundai i20 to determine how it reached the suspect,” a police source said. “We are also verifying how Dr Umar Nabi came in contact with him.”Dr Umar Nabi, an assistant professor at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, is believed to have been driving the car when the blast occurred outside Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort Metro Station around 6:52 pm. Investigators suspect he panicked after several of his associates were arrested and was attempting to move the explosives to another location when the blast took place. Also Read | From Umar to Muzammil: Who are the six doctors behind Delhi Red Fort blast; all you need to know The Special Cell is examining dealership records, transaction logs, and CCTV footage to identify intermediaries involved in the vehicle’s sale or transfer. Meanwhile, Delhi Police has launched a citywide verification campaign targeting all used-car dealerships in and around the capital. Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) across Delhi’s 15 districts have been directed to hold meetings with local dealers and cross-check recent sales records.Also Read | ‘Government has failed’: Kharge slams agencies, BJP over Delhi car blast; demands swift probe“SHOs have been asked to visit dealerships, verify recent transactions, and collect details of buyers—especially those from Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir,” a senior officer said. “Any suspicious or cash-only deals are being closely scrutinized.”Parallel checks are also being conducted by Haryana and Uttar Pradesh Police to trace vehicles purchased under fake identities or without proper documentation.Also Read | ‘Ruptured eardrums, damaged lungs’: Post-mortem report after Delhi blast reveals chilling details; NIA probes terror link In a meeting with car dealers in Delhi, police officials stressed strict adherence to verification norms and maintenance of detailed sale-purchase records. Dealers were advised to verify buyers’ Aadhaar, driving licence, and address proofs, and immediately report any suspicious activity. The Special Cell is expected to question more individuals linked to the vehicle’s sale as the investigation into the Red Fort blast widens. Go to Source