Delhi Police Raid Paharganj & Daryaganj Hotels, Arrest 4 Following Red Fort Blast

Following the deadly explosion near Delhi's Red Fort that killed at least eight people and injured several others on Monday evening, the Delhi Police conducted an extensive overnight search operation across the central parts of the city.

The crackdown stretched from Paharganj and Daryaganj to nearby areas, with officers combing through hotels, verifying guest registers, and detaining four individuals for questioning.

Extensive Night Searches and Multiple Raids

Teams of the Delhi Police fanned out across Paharganj, Daryaganj, and adjoining localities in a coordinated search that lasted through the night. Hotel registers were checked in detail to identify recent check-ins or suspicious entries possibly linked to the blast.

Sources said four people were taken into custody for questioning, while around 13 others remain under surveillance based on CCTV evidence collected from various routes. Nearly 200 personnel were deployed to scrutinize surveillance footage from locations stretching from the Badarpur border to the Red Fort's Sunheri Masjid parking area, and further up to Kashmere Gate.

According to initial findings, the white Hyundai i20 car that exploded outside the Red Fort entered Delhi from Haryana through the Badarpur border. Investigators suspect that Dr. Umar, reportedly connected to the Faridabad module, may have been traveling in the same car, though his identity will only be confirmed after DNA testing.

CCTV Footage and Ongoing Investigation

Delhi Police officials have retrieved several CCTV clips tracing the vehicle's route before the explosion. The footage reportedly shows the car entering and exiting the Red Fort parking area, with the suspect alone inside at the time.

"Investigators are now tracing the route towards Daryaganj, while more than 100 CCTV clips, including footage from nearby toll plazas, are being examined to establish the complete movement of the vehicle," a senior police source said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Delhi) Raja Banthia told reporters, "As of now, the investigation is going on. We cannot comment on anything conclusively... FSL is lifting the traces of explosions... We are examining the scene of the crime."

UAPA Case Registered, Multiple Agencies Involved

A case has been registered under several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosives Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). "A case has been registered under sections 16 and 18 of the UAPA and various sections of the Explosives Act and the BNS at the Kotwali Police Station," Delhi Police confirmed.

Officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams were seen at the site, collecting samples and analyzing the remnants of the blast.

Officials Confirm Blast Sequence

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the explosion occurred in a Hyundai i20 at the Subhash Marg traffic signal near the Red Fort around 7 pm on Monday. The blast injured pedestrians and damaged several nearby vehicles.

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha described the sequence of events, stating, "Today, at around 6.52 pm, a slow-moving vehicle stopped at the red light. An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the explosion, nearby vehicles were also damaged. All agencies, FSL, NIA, are here... Some people have died, and some have been injured in the incident. The situation is being monitored."

As the investigation deepens, authorities continue to trace possible links between the Red Fort explosion and other recent terror-related incidents in the National Capital Region.