NIA chargesheets 3 more in Red Fort car bomb case, tally reaches 13
Synopsis
The NIA has now chargesheeted 13 people in the November 2025 Red Fort car bombing that killed 11 — including a paediatrician who is a founding member of an Al-Qaeda offshoot and remains on the run. The case reveals a sophisticated terror network with roots in a 2022 Srinagar meeting, IED labs inside a university campus, and a cross-border arms pipeline.
Key Takeaways
The NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet on 27 June naming 3 new accused in the Red Fort car bomb blast of 10 November 2025 .
Total chargesheeted accused now stands at 13 , including prime accused Umer Un Nabi who died in the explosion.
Absconding accused Muzafar Ahmad , a paediatrician and founding member of AGuH Interim (an Al-Qaeda offshoot), faces the most serious charges; an NBW has been issued against him.
Tufail Ahmad Bhat , a former Lashkar-e-Taiba OGW, allegedly supplied an AK-47 , a Krinkov rifle, a pistol, and ammunition for ₹3 lakh .
The terror module AGuH Interim was reportedly established at a secret meeting in Srinagar in June 2022 .
TATP-based IEDs were allegedly manufactured and tested at a clandestine facility inside Al-Falah University, Faridabad .
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet naming three additional accused in the 10 November 2025 car bomb explosion near Red Fort, New Delhi, that killed 11 persons. The filing, made before the Special NIA Court at Patiala House Courts, brings the total number of chargesheeted accused to 13, including prime accused Umer Un Nabi, who died in the blast.
The Three Newly Named Accused
The supplementary chargesheet names Zameer Ahmad Ahanger, Tufail Ahmad Bhat, and Muzafar Ahmad — also known as Faraz and Zafar — all residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Of the three, Muzafar Ahmad remains at large; a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) has been issued against him and the NIA has said efforts are under way to trace and arrest him.
Muzafar, a paediatrician holding MBBS and MD degrees, is identified as the elder brother of co-accused Adeel Ahmed Rather and a founding member of AGuH Interim — described by investigators as an offshoot of Al-Qaeda. According to the NIA's probe, he was one of the prime architects of the conspiracy alongside co-accused Umer, Muzammil, Adeel, and Mufti Irfan.
Role of the Terror Module AGuH Interim
The NIA's investigation established that Muzafar attended a clandestine Eidgah meeting in Srinagar in June 2022, during which the AGuH Interim terror module was formally constituted. He was also found to be deeply involved in the manufacture, testing, and storage of TATP-based improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at a covert facility operated by Umer and Muzammil at Al-Falah University, Faridabad.
Zameer Ahmad Ahanger is described in the chargesheet as an overground worker (OGW) of AGuH Interim who maintained active contact with handlers and functioned as a courier for arms, ammunition, and cash for the module. Tufail Ahmad Bhat, a former OGW of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), served as the module's arms supplier. According to investigators, Tufail procured one AK-47, one Krinkov rifle, one pistol, magazines, and live ammunition through dead drops orchestrated by a handler, delivering them to Umer Un Nabi for ₹3 lakh.
Charges Filed
Arrested accused Zameer and Tufail have been charged under sections 13, 18, 20, 23, 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and sections 61(2), 147, 148 and 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Absconding accused Muzafar faces additional charges under section 61(2) read with sections 103(1), 109(1), 118(1) and 118(2) of the BNS, as well as sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, and sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Investigation Methodology and Next Steps
The NIA said its probe employed a multi-disciplinary scientific approach, combining detailed forensic testing, geo-location mapping of conspiracy sites, and granular financial-trail analysis to establish linkages between the accused. The agency confirmed that the investigation in the case is continuing. The 10 November 2025 Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) blast near one of India's most iconic landmarks remains one of the most serious domestic terror incidents in recent years.
Point of View
A university-campus IED lab, a cross-border arms courier network, and a medically qualified fugitive as a key architect. The presence of a practising paediatrician at the heart of the conspiracy challenges the conventional security-agency profile of a domestic terror operative. What the chargesheet does not yet answer publicly is how a clandestine IED facility operated inside a functioning university campus without detection — a question that points to potential intelligence and institutional failures beyond the NIA's remit.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Red Fort car bomb case?
The Red Fort car bomb case refers to a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) explosion that occurred on 10 November 2025 near the Red Fort in New Delhi, killing 11 people. The NIA is investigating the blast, which has been linked to AGuH Interim, an alleged offshoot of Al-Qaeda.
Who are the three newly chargesheeted accused?
The three newly named accused are Zameer Ahmad Ahanger, Tufail Ahmad Bhat, and Muzafar Ahmad (also known as Faraz and Zafar), all from Jammu and Kashmir. Muzafar Ahmad remains at large, while Zameer and Tufail are in custody.
Who is Muzafar Ahmad and why is he significant?
Muzafar Ahmad is a paediatrician (MBBS, MD) identified by the NIA as a founding member of AGuH Interim and one of the prime architects of the Red Fort bombing conspiracy. He is the elder brother of co-accused Adeel Ahmed Rather and is currently absconding; a Non-Bailable Warrant has been issued against him.
What is AGuH Interim?
AGuH Interim is described by the NIA as a terror module and offshoot of Al-Qaeda. According to investigators, it was established at a secret Eidgah meeting in Srinagar in June 2022, with Muzafar Ahmad among its founding members.
How many people have been chargesheeted in total?
As of the latest supplementary chargesheet filed on 27 June, a total of 13 people have been chargesheeted in the Red Fort car bomb case, including prime accused Umer Un Nabi, who died in the blast.
