Updated on: November 12, 2025 | 07:13 PM IST

Faridabad/New Delhi: A red Ford EcoSport linked to Dr Umar Un Nabi, the suspected driver of the Hyundai i20 that exploded near the Red Fort on Monday, has been recovered in Faridabad, authorities said on Wednesday. The vehicle, registered at the Rajouri Garden RTO in Delhi, was found parked outside a farmhouse belonging to an acquaintance of Dr Umar near Khandawali village on the outskirts of the city.

According to Faridabad Police spokesperson Yashpal Singh, the car, bearing registration number DL10 CK 0458, has been seized and handed over to the investigating agency for forensic examination. Investigators plan to question the acquaintance who owned the farmhouse to determine how the vehicle ended up there and who had access to it.

Tracing the Vehicle

The red EcoSport was traced following leads provided by the Jammu & Kashmir Police, whose probe into a terror module linked to the Red Fort blast indicated the vehicle’s presence in Faridabad. Acting on this intelligence, a joint police team conducted a raid near Khandawali village, leading to the car’s recovery from the farmhouse.

Earlier, the Delhi Police had issued an alert across the NCR, warning that the vehicle may have been used for reconnaissance activities in connection with the attack.

Connection to the Red Fort Blast

Dr Umar Un Nabi became the focus of the investigation after authorities traced the Hyundai i20 (HR26CE7674) that exploded near Red Fort metro station. CCTV footage showed the car slowing at a red light before detonating, killing at least 10 people and injuring several others.

Investigators said Dr Umar had evaded a series of raids in Faridabad that led to the arrest of several associates, including doctors linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror module, and the seizure of nearly 3,000 kg of explosive material.

A Delhi Police Special Cell officer explained the trail that led to the recovery of the EcoSport: “The car was originally registered to a man named Salman, who sold it to Devender. Devender sold it to Taariq. While we were tracing Taariq, we discovered the car had last been with Umar, who was inside the i20 during the attack.”

Next Steps

The vehicle is now undergoing forensic analysis to determine whether it was used in planning or conducting reconnaissance for the blast, and whether it contains any traces of explosives or other incriminating evidence. Investigators will also interrogate Dr Umar’s acquaintances and associates to map the network that facilitated the attack.

The recovery of the EcoSport adds another piece to the ongoing probe into the Red Fort blast, highlighting the multi-state coordination between Delhi Police, Faridabad Police, and Jammu & Kashmir Police in tracking suspects and their assets.

Authorities continue to pursue leads across Delhi, Faridabad, and adjoining areas, aiming to apprehend all individuals involved in the attack and prevent further threats to public safety.