A deadly explosion in a Hyundai i20 near Delhi’s Red Fort on the evening of November 10 has set off a wide-ranging investigation spanning multiple cities and involving several previous owners of the vehicle. The blast, which killed eight people and injured several others, has prompted an urgent effort by law-enforcement agencies to reconstruct the car’s sales trail in order to understand how it came to be at the site of the tragedy and whether foul play was involved.

According to preliminary information released by the Delhi Police and supported by statements from Gurugram authorities, investigators have detained two men connected to the vehicle’s past ownership: Salman, a resident of Gurugram, and Devender, from Okhla in Delhi. Although both men were not in possession of the vehicle at the time of the explosion, police say their roles in the car’s ownership history make them important to the ongoing inquiry.

The chain of events began with Gurugram Police confirming that the vehicle was originally registered in the name of Salman. Approximately eighteen months ago, Salman sold the car to Devender. Officials state there was nothing unusual in the initial sale, but with the vehicle later changing hands again, authorities must now determine how it moved from one owner to another and eventually ended up near the historic Red Fort on the day of the explosion.

Gurugram Police spokesperson Sandeep Kumar explained that Salman cooperated with law-enforcement officials and confirmed the sale of the vehicle to Devender. Salman has since been handed over to Delhi Police for deeper questioning. The investigation has revealed that after buying the car from Salman, Devender either directly sold it or facilitated its transfer to another individual in Ambala. However, police have not yet identified the person who acquired it thereafter or how many more times the vehicle may have changed hands.

Devender has also been detained by Delhi Police for questioning. Officials indicate that neither he nor Salman is being treated as a suspect at this stage. Instead, they are viewed as key links in reconstructing the vehicle’s ownership chain—a process investigators describe as central to determining whether the explosion was an accident, an act of sabotage, or something more organized.

Authorities remain cautious about arriving at conclusions. Senior police personnel have clarified that as of now, no links to terrorism or planned attacks have been established. The nature of the explosion itself is still under forensic review. Specialists are examining debris from the blast site, including remnants of the vehicle’s internal components, to determine what ignited the explosion and whether external materials such as explosives or accelerants played a role.

Investigators are also reviewing surveillance footage from surrounding areas, with particular focus on the minutes leading up to the explosion. The Red Fort and its adjoining areas are equipped with numerous CCTV cameras due to their historical and strategic relevance. Analysts hope that video evidence will reveal either the arrival of the vehicle, movements around it, or persons who may have interacted with it prior to the incident.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police have expanded their inquiry beyond the direct chain of ownership. They are reaching out to used-car dealers, vehicle brokers, and individuals known to have facilitated sales in the Ambala region. Because informal sales of used cars often bypass proper documentation, tracing such transfers becomes difficult and sometimes requires interviewing a wide circle of intermediaries.

Officials are also gathering mobile phone records, bank transaction data, and other financial details from individuals associated with the vehicle’s past ownership. They aim to determine whether any payments related to the car’s resale were made recently, which could point towards undisclosed transfers or identify new individuals connected to the vehicle in the days before the explosion.

A parallel forensic investigation is underway in Delhi, where experts are assessing the blast pattern, the condition of the vehicle’s fuel system, and the possibility of mechanical malfunction. While accidental explosions caused by fuel leaks or overheating are rare in modern vehicles, investigators are not ruling out any scenario. The intensity of the explosion, which killed eight people, suggests a high-impact triggering event, making the forensic analysis particularly crucial.

In the aftermath of the blast, access to the area near Red Fort was temporarily restricted as emergency services conducted evacuation, medical assistance, and site-clearing operations. Witnesses described hearing a loud boom followed by flames engulfing the car. First responders attempted to control the fire while attending to victims, but the rapid spread of the blaze made rescue efforts extremely challenging.

The incident has raised safety concerns, especially given the symbolic and historical significance of the Red Fort. Police presence around major landmarks in Delhi has been tightened, and security agencies have been instructed to remain alert until more clarity emerges. Coordination between Delhi Police, Gurugram Police, and authorities in Ambala and other regions underscores the seriousness with which officials are treating the case.

As the ownership trail continues to unfold, investigators say that re-creating the car’s movement over the past several months may take time, particularly if undocumented sales or cash-based transactions occurred. Each individual in the chain is being questioned not only about the transfer of the vehicle but also about the condition of the car at the time of sale, the identity of buyers or intermediaries, and any modifications or repairs made during their period of ownership.

Law-enforcement officials emphasize that the primary objective at this stage is to establish a clear timeline rather than assign blame. By verifying who last possessed the vehicle, who may have driven or transported it recently, and whether it had been left unattended, investigators hope to uncover leads that will explain why the car was near the Red Fort at the time of the explosion.

While the investigation continues, the families of the victims are awaiting answers. Government authorities have stated that compensation and support will be provided, though specific announcements are expected after the initial findings of the probe are submitted.

For now, the focus remains on tracing the complete sales history of the ill-fated Hyundai i20. The detentions of Salman and Devender mark only the first step in a process that may involve multiple individuals across different states. With many unanswered questions and the nature of the blast still unclear, the investigation remains in its early but critical stages, as officials work to uncover the circumstances that led to one of the most serious incidents in the capital in recent months.