Red Fort blast probe uncovers Army-grade cartridges, CCTV trail tightens case around Umar Nabi

A dramatic new turn in the Red Fort car blast investigation has emerged with Delhi Police recovering three 9mm cartridges from the explosion site — ammunition typically used by the Army and police — deepening the mystery around the November 10 attack that killed 13 people and injured several others.

According to officers familiar with the probe, two of the recovered cartridges are live rounds while the third is a spent shell. The absence of any weapon or pistol parts at the site, however, has raised fresh questions about how the ammunition reached the blast zone.

Investigators have already verified that no rounds issued to personnel deployed at the location are missing, effectively ruling out police involvement.

The breakthrough comes as investigators analyzed 43 previously unseen CCTV frames that trace the Hyundai i20’s final movements, according to India Today.

The visual trail follows the vehicle from a Faridabad university campus to the narrow lanes of Old Delhi before it reached the Red Fort precinct just hours before the blast.

Umar’s identity has been conclusively established after DNA collected from the charred remains matched samples taken from his mother, officials confirmed.

Investigators say the digital reconstruction — stitched together from footage pulled from more than 5,000 CCTV cameras across Delhi-NCR — has given them clarity on the car’s route, timing, and stops. Officials believe the explosion near Red Fort Metro Station Gate No. 1 was triggered using high-grade explosive material.

Forensic teams have recovered more than 40 pieces of evidence from the site, including the cartridges, live rounds, and traces of the explosive compound. At least one sample tested stronger than ammonium nitrate, indicating the presence of a more potent substance.

Preliminary analysis suggests the vehicle carried 30 to 40 kg of ammonium nitrate, an amount consistent with the sheer destructive force that tore through the area on November 10.

The investigation now hinges on determining how military-grade ammunition appeared at the scene — and whether it signals a larger, coordinated operation behind one of Delhi’s deadliest urban blasts in recent years.