The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made a significant breakthrough in the Delhi car blast case near the Red Fort, arresting Amir Rashid Ali, a resident of Samboora, Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA has been granted a ten-day detention period for Ali. He is accused of conspiring with suicide bomber Umar Un Nabi in the attack that killed 13 and injured 32. The blast occurred on November 10, 2025, near the Red Fort in Delhi.

NIA investigations revealed that Ali traveled to Delhi to facilitate the purchase of the vehicle that was later used as a car-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The car used in the blast was registered in Ali's name. The NIA has officially labeled the blast as a "vehicle-borne IED" attack, a first for Delhi. Forensic analysis has confirmed the identity of the deceased driver as Umar Nabi. The NIA has also seized another vehicle belonging to Nabi.

During court submissions seeking a 10-day custody for Amir Rashid Ali, the NIA stated that Ali arranged a safe house for Umar Un Nabi. The agency further alleges that Ali assisted Nabi in preparing the IED used in the blast. The NIA is seeking to take Ali to Jammu and Kashmir as part of the ongoing investigation. The agency asserts that Ali is implicated in a terror act against the unity, security, and sovereignty of India, providing logistical support and procurement to Umar Nabi.

Sources indicate that Umar Nabi rented a house in Nuh, Haryana, before the blast. He stayed in a rented room in Hidayat Colony for approximately 10 days, leaving the accommodation in his i-20 car carrying explosive materials around 1 am on November 10. CCTV footage captured Nabi's car entering the colony.

The NIA has carried out raids in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh in connection with the blast. The authorities have examined 73 witnesses, seized multiple vehicles for forensic testing, and begun piecing together logistics across several states. The NIA believes a "white-collar terror network" spanning Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh facilitated preparations, including transport and possible communication with foreign sources.

Security measures have been heightened in Delhi, including increased verification at hotels, guest houses, cyber cafés, malls, and commercial centers. Checks on tenants, workers, and security staff have also been intensified.