Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 5: A Delhi court on Friday extended the National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody of accused Soyab by 10 days in connection with the November 10 Red Fort blast that claimed 13 lives and injured dozens. Soyab, who was earlier remanded to NIA custody on November 26, was produced before the special NIA court at Patiala House after the expiry of his previous remand.
According to the NIA, Soyab allegedly harboured prime conspirator Dr. Umar Mohammad, also known as Umar un Nabi, and provided him with crucial logistical support in the days leading up to the attack. He is the seventh arrest made in the case.
Officials revealed that Soyab, a lab assistant at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, played a key role by helping Umar procure chemicals from the university laboratory. In addition, he arranged a rented room for Umar at his sister-in-law’s residence in Hidayat Colony, Nuh, shortly before the explosion.
Earlier this week, on December 3, the NIA custody of another accused, Jasir Bilal Wani, was extended by seven days after he was produced before the special court following the expiry of his initial remand.
The deadly explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10 was part of what investigators now describe as a sophisticated ‘white-collar’ terror network linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit. Even before the blast, police had already made multiple arrests across states as evidence of an interstate terror module began to surface.
Subsequent investigations uncovered disturbing details about Umar’s movements and preparation methods. According to interrogation reports, Umar carried a “mobile workstation” — a large suitcase filled with bomb-making equipment, chemicals, and containers — wherever he travelled.
Umar, a medical professional affiliated with Al-Falah University, allegedly conducted chemical experiments in his campus room that were used to assemble the final improvised explosive device (IED). Another arrested suspect, Dr. Muzamil Shakeel, also associated with the university, confirmed to investigators that Umar tested and used various chemical substances that ultimately contributed to the execution of the blast.