3 weeks ago
Red Fort blast: Court to take cognisance of NIA chargesheet
In November 2025, a car bomb exploded near the Red Fort in Delhi, killing 11 people.
The National Investigation Agency, or NIA for short, investigated the blast.
The NIA wrote a very long report, called a chargesheet, that is about 7,500 pages long and names 11 accused people.
The report says more than 580 people could be called as witnesses.
A special court in Delhi will look at the report on August 27 to decide what happens next.
The judge asked the NIA to explain what each accused person is said to have done.
One of the accused, Dr Umar Un Nabi, died in the blast, so the judge wants proof about his death.
Some accused people in jail asked for phone calls and more time outside their cells.
The judge wants the main case to move along as quickly as possible.
The Rouse Avenue Court has listed the NIA chargesheet in the November 2025 Red Fort car blast case for taking cognisance on August 27.
The NIA's 7,500-page chargesheet against 11 accused cites more than 580 witnesses, including 588 oral testimonies.
The court asked the NIA to file a table specifying each accused's role and a death verification report for deceased accused Umar Un Nabi.
The court directed the NIA to supply application copies to all accused within five days and ordered pending applications be heard separately so the main case can proceed expeditiously.
The NIA alleges the accused, linked to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), plotted 'Operation Heavenly Hind'; 11 people were killed and several injured in the blast.
- Who
- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed the chargesheet; Special Judge (NIA) Prashant Sharma of the Rouse Avenue Court will decide on taking cognisance involving 11 accused persons.
- What
- The court is set to take cognisance of the NIA chargesheet in the Red Fort car blast case and has asked the NIA to specify each accused's role.
- Where
- Near Delhi's Red Fort; the chargesheet was presented before the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi.
- When
- The blast occurred on November 10, 2025; the first chargesheet was filed on May 14 and the supplementary chargesheet on June 27, 2026; cognisance is listed for August 27.
- Why
- A high-intensity vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) killed 11 people and injured several; the NIA alleges a larger jihadi conspiracy involving Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), an offshoot of Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).
Prosecution / NIA
Accused / Defence Counsel
Witness protection application
Prosecution / NIA
The NIA seeks protected-witness status for one witness in view of a threat assessment report, under Section 44 of the NIA Act read with Section 17 of UAPA.
Accused / Defence Counsel
Defence counsel said copies of the NIA's applications had not been given to the accused; the court directed copies be supplied to all accused within five days.
Jail facilities and detention conditions
Prosecution / NIA
The NIA has given a no-objection certificate for the telephone facility sought by accused Tufail Ahmed Bhat, and the jail authorities' report is awaited by the court.
Accused / Defence Counsel
Accused Tufail Ahmed Bhat sought telephone facility, while Amir Rashid Mir and Adeel Ahmad Rather said they were lodged in a high-risk ward and were not getting sufficient time outside their cells.
Pending investigation vs. trial pace
Prosecution / NIA
The NIA says further investigation is pending against certain known and unknown persons; the Chief Investigating Officer must report whether proceedings can lawfully continue.
Accused / Defence Counsel
The court ordered the applications be separately registered and heard so the main case can proceed expeditiously in accordance with law.
Key facts
- Blast date
- November 10, 2025
- Location
- Near Red Fort, Delhi
- Casualties
- 11 killed, several injured; extensive damage to nearby property
- Charged persons
- 11 accused; chargesheet of about 7,500 pages
- Witnesses cited
- More than 580, including 588 oral testimonies
- Next hearing
- August 27 (taking of cognisance)
- Laws invoked
- UAPA, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act
- Explosive used
- Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), per NIA
Quotes
Special Judge (NIA) Prashant Sharma
Judge overseeing the NIA case at Rouse Avenue Court
“The court has asked the NIA to file a table specifying the role of each accused.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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