Court Extends NIA Custody of Key Suspects in Red Fort Blast Case

NIA Custody Extended for Key Suspects

A Delhi court has extended the custody of Dr. Bilal Naseer Malla, a suspect in the Red Fort blast case, for an additional seven days. The court also placed Soiab, a resident of Faridabad, under judicial custody for five days, as he is accused of sheltering Umar-un-Nabi, the bomber involved in the Red Fort attack. Following the expiration of their previous four-day NIA custody on December 15, both suspects were presented at the Patiala House Court under tight security. Media personnel were barred from covering the proceedings.

Judicial Custody Details

The suspects were brought before Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna, who granted the NIA permission to interrogate Naseer for another week. Meanwhile, Soiab has been remanded to judicial custody until December 24. An official spokesperson from the NIA previously stated that Soiab was arrested for allegedly providing logistical support to the terrorist Umar-un-Nabi prior to the Delhi bombing. It is noteworthy that Dr. Naseer was apprehended on December 9 and is considered the main conspirator in the case.

Allegations Against Naseer

According to the NIA's investigation, Naseer is accused of deliberately providing logistical assistance to Umar-un-Nabi. The agency has also indicated that he is suspected of destroying evidence related to the terrorist attack. To date, the NIA has arrested nine individuals, including three other doctors: Dr. Muzammil Gunai, Dr. Adil Rathar, and Dr. Shaheen Syed, along with religious preacher Maulana Irfan. Additionally, two others, Amir Rashid Ali and Jasir Bilal Wani, also known as Danish, have been taken into custody.