In the days following the shocking car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort, investigators have pieced together a detailed timeline of events that track the movements of the prime suspect, 35-year-old Umar Un Nabi, across the National Capital Region. The evidence — drawn from more than 25 CCTV cameras — forms a chilling narrative of a man who methodically drove through the city for nearly 11 hours before the blast destroyed his white Hyundai i20.

A Trail That Began in the Dead of Night

The investigation began at a toll plaza near Dhauj village in Haryana’s Mewat, where CCTV footage showed the i20 crossing just after midnight on Sunday. This was the first confirmed visual of the car before it made its way into the Delhi region. According to police sources, Nabi’s route appeared calculated but erratic — he avoided major highways for long stretches, perhaps to evade surveillance or to mask his purpose.

By 7:25 a.m. on Monday, the vehicle was captured by another camera near Faridabad’s Asian Hospital, heading north towards Delhi. There was nothing outwardly suspicious — no abrupt stops, no passengers, and no attempts to conceal his face. The i20 then reached a petrol pump in Kalkaji around 8:20 a.m., where Nabi reportedly refueled. CCTV footage from that location shows a man in black clothing stepping out briefly before continuing towards the DND Flyway, one of Delhi’s main entry points from the south.

The 5-Hour Blackout

Between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., police say there was a critical “blackout period” — a five-hour stretch during which the car completely vanished from camera coverage. Investigators suspect Nabi may have driven through areas with sparse CCTV presence, possibly around east or southeast Delhi, or taken back routes through congested markets and residential neighborhoods where surveillance is less dense.

Officers are analyzing toll and mobile network data to determine whether he met anyone during this gap. However, early evidence suggests he was alone throughout the day, a detail that supports the current working theory that he acted independently.

Calm in the Chaos: Connaught Place Stop

At 2:00 p.m., cameras picked up the i20 near RK Ashram Marg Metro Station, marking the end of the blackout period. Minutes later, the vehicle entered Connaught Place’s Outer Circle, one of Delhi’s busiest commercial hubs. Footage accessed by the police and viewed by investigators shows Nabi parking his car near E Block and stepping out.

He appeared calm and composed — wearing a black shirt, black trousers, and brown leather sandals — and did not seem to be in a hurry. He walked around the parked car for nearly ten minutes, occasionally glancing at the vehicle but not using his phone or meeting anyone.

A Delhi Police officer involved in the analysis described his demeanor as “surprisingly unbothered,” adding, “He looked like any other passerby, not anxious or hurried. There was no visible sign of agitation. We cannot speculate on why he stopped there or what he might have been doing.”

The footage has raised more questions than answers. Was he checking something inside the car? Was he scouting the area? Investigators are now examining the possibility that this stop was either a final test run for the explosive device or a planned pause before the last leg of his route toward Old Delhi.

The Mosque Stop at Turkman Gate

Later in the afternoon, around 2:30 p.m., CCTV footage from the Faiz Ilahi Masjid near Turkman Gate captured the same car arriving quietly and parking nearby. The suspect — again seen in his black attire, this time unmasked — entered the mosque premises.

“He came alone, offered prayers, and left after about 10 to 15 minutes,” said a second police officer familiar with the investigation. “He didn’t interact with anyone, and there’s no footage of him meeting any other person during that time.”

The visit has intrigued investigators. While some officers believe it may have been a routine religious stop, others suggest it might have had psychological or symbolic significance for the suspect before carrying out the act.

The Mosque Staff Speaks

Abdul Salim, a staff member at Faiz Ilahi Masjid, confirmed that Delhi Police visited the mosque after the blast. “They showed us footage of a white car and a man they said was the accused,” Salim said. “We did not recognise him or recall seeing him that day. The police questioned us about our work, our duties, and personal details. We cooperated fully and told them everything we knew.”

The mosque authorities have provided the police with access to their own internal CCTV systems, though no incriminating activity has been found from inside the premises.

Driving Through the Heart of Delhi

Following his mosque visit, Nabi drove the i20 past Daryaganj market around 2:50 p.m., as seen in footage from a nearby shop camera. He passed the local police station without incident and headed toward the Red Fort area, entering its parking lot near Sunehri Masjid at 3:19 p.m.

There, the car remained stationary for over three hours — from 3:19 p.m. to 6:22 p.m. Investigators believe this was the period when he finalized his plan or made adjustments to whatever device was later triggered. The fact that he did not leave the premises during this long interval suggests he was either waiting for a specific moment or preparing for the explosion itself.

The Final Moments

At 6:22 p.m., CCTV footage shows the white Hyundai i20 exiting the Red Fort parking lot and moving toward Netaji Subhash Marg. Roughly 30 minutes later, at 6:52 p.m., an explosion ripped through the vehicle near the historic monument. The blast shattered windows in nearby shops, sent bystanders running for cover, and triggered an immediate response from local police units stationed in the area.

The exact cause of the explosion remains under forensic analysis. Initial reports suggest a high-intensity improvised device, but investigators have not confirmed whether it was remotely detonated or triggered internally.

Mapping the Movement

Delhi Police, aided by forensic and cybercrime units, reconstructed the suspect’s path across southern, central, eastern, and northern Delhi using footage from traffic cameras, private establishments, and municipal feeds. This meticulous tracing — spanning more than 25 CCTV locations — has helped them piece together nearly every movement of the i20 from the time it entered Delhi until the blast.

The reconstruction not only confirmed Nabi’s route but also strengthened the theory that he acted alone. No second individual was seen entering or exiting the vehicle at any point, and no phone calls or communication patterns have yet linked him to a wider network.

An Ongoing Investigation

The Delhi Police are now focusing on several key questions: Where did the car go during the five-hour blackout? How was the explosive material sourced or assembled? And what was the motive behind the act?

Forensic teams are examining the remains of the i20 for chemical traces and electronic fragments that could identify the device’s make or origin. Intelligence agencies have been roped in to trace Nabi’s background, contacts, and digital footprint.

As the investigation deepens, the trail left behind by CCTV cameras — from Haryana’s toll plazas to the heart of Old Delhi — has become the backbone of the case. Each frame has brought the police closer to understanding the deliberate, unnerving calm of a man who navigated one of India’s most surveilled cities before vanishing into fire and smoke outside one of its most iconic landmarks.

The Red Fort blast may have lasted only seconds, but the silent journey leading up to it — captured across 25 lenses — is now at the center of Delhi’s largest counter-terror investigation in years.