The Special NIA Court at Patiala House on Tuesday extended the custody of Amir Rashid Ali for a further seven days. He was produced before the court after completing seven days of NIA custody, having initially been remanded for ten days. Ali was arrested on November 16 in connection with the Red Fort blast case.
The Principal District and Sessions Judge, serving as the Special NIA Judge, extended his custody for another seven days in a closed courtroom. The court had also extended his custody previously on November 26 for seven days.
The Delhi blast, which occurred around 7 pm on November 10 in a moving Hyundai i20, killed 15 people and injured over two dozen others. The car was allegedly driven by suicide bomber Umar Un Nabi.
According to the anti-terror agency, Amir Rashid Ali had come to Delhi to facilitate the purchase of the car, which was later used as a vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the attack.
Forensic investigations by the NIA have confirmed the identity of the deceased driver as Umar Un Nabi, a resident of Pulwama district and an Assistant Professor in the General Medicine Department at Al Falah University, Faridabad.
The NIA has also seized another vehicle belonging to Nabi, which is being examined for evidence. So far, 73 witnesses, including those injured in the blast, have been questioned.
The NIA is continuing its investigation across states in close coordination with Delhi Police, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, Uttar Pradesh Police, and other sister agencies. (Agencies)
