Police investigating a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast at an under-construction building in Bengaluru's Pulakeshinagar have verified footage from more than 100 CCTV cameras and constituted five special teams to track down the perpetrators, officials said on Friday, 23 October 2026. The probe is running in parallel with a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) examination, the results of which are still awaited.

How the Blast Unfolded

According to preliminary findings, an unidentified person made an anonymous phone call to security staff at the site, claiming the parcel contained a torchlight and instructing them to collect and store it inside the building. The security guard complied, and when the box was subsequently opened and its battery switched on, the IED detonated. A painter present at the spot and a second individual were injured — one reportedly lost a finger, the other sustained minor injuries.

The device was concealed inside a box delivered as a parcel, with investigators now working to trace the anonymous call and reconstruct how the consignment reached the site.

Key Investigative Leads and Challenges

The inquiry is focused on two core questions: how the explosive materials were procured, and who arranged for the parcel's delivery. Investigators suspect one of the accused's associates may have physically transported the device to the building.

Police have recorded statements from both injured persons. However, the account given by Allauddin, who has since been discharged from hospital, has reportedly been inconsistent. During questioning, he told officers that a man had handed him the parcel, but separately maintained that the box had been left near the building and that he had picked it up. Investigators are working to reconcile these contradictory versions. The second injured person, Suraj, remains too unwell to give a formal statement; police expect to record it once his condition improves.

Rahman, the owner of the property where the explosion occurred, has denied any prior knowledge of or involvement in the incident and has not indicated any personal enmity that might explain the targeting of his building.

NIA Likely to Take Over the Probe

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is reportedly set to assume charge of the investigation, with preliminary findings pointing to a deliberate IED deployment. The NIA has already sought and received reports from the Bengaluru Police and the Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) team. A site inspection by the agency is possible if further examination is deemed necessary.

Currently, the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and local police are jointly investigating the incident. The use of a battery-triggered IED has drawn the attention of security agencies, who are examining the technical expertise required to assemble such a device — a detail that has raised concerns about whether this was an isolated act of personal enmity or part of a broader conspiracy.

What the Government Has Said

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday urged citizens not to spread or act on rumours, stating that the authorities would need to await laboratory reports before confirming the cause of the explosion. The East Division Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) is personally monitoring the progress of the investigation.

Why Bengaluru's Security Profile Matters

The incident has attracted heightened scrutiny given that Bengaluru — widely regarded as India's Silicon Valley — hosts numerous defence establishments, scientific research institutions, and advanced manufacturing facilities. Any deliberate use of an improvised explosive in the city carries implications that extend well beyond a localised dispute. Investigators are expected to examine the device's design, materials, and triggering mechanism to determine whether the incident has wider security ramifications. All investigative threads remain active as the FSL report is awaited.