Delhi car blast: Missing Brezza found at Al-Falah; man who sold 300kg fertiliser held

Faridabad: A third car, a Maruti Brezza, linked to the "white coat" module was tracked down on Thursday to the campus of Al-Falah university, triggering a search for explosives there by the bomb squad and giving investigators more evidence of a plot to attack multiple places using cars as bombs.

The almost-brand-new car was registered this Sept in the name of Dr Shaheen Shahid, who is among two Al-Falah doctors arrested so far in the investigation. Their colleague from the department of medicine, Dr Umar Un Nabi, was the one who was in the Hyundai i20 that blew up near Red Fort, killing 13 people.




Investigators had Wednesday found a Ford EcoSport, registered in Umar's name, at Khandawali village in Faridabad, setting off another hours-long scan for explosives. On Nov 9, the day police uncovered nearly 3,000kg of ammonium nitrate and other explosive substances from two rented places in Faridabad, a Krinkov assault rifle was found inside a Swift Dzire owned by Shaheen.

Ammonium nitrate was bought from various dealers in Nuh district. Agencies have detained several sellers, among them Dinesh Kumar, who allegedly sold 300kg without asking the buyer any questions about its purpose.

The ammonium nitrate stockpile was allegedly organised by Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, who was arrested from Al-Falah on Oct 30, Muzammil was using the Dzire.

Diaries and notes found in the rooms of Umar and Muzammil suggest the module was looking to blow up car bombs by hiring or buying vehicles across various locations, sources said. The EcoSport had traces of ammonium nitrate inside, suggesting it had been used to transport explosives - likely to the two rooms rented by Muzammil near the university, from where the main cache was seized.

Brezza found near Tower 17 on campus

According to investigators, several of the doctors arrested or detained so far in the investigation were mentioned as aliases that they have successfully decoded. Among those who find mention is Adeel Majeed Rather, who was arrested from Saharanpur in UP earlier and led police to Muzammil.

The Brezza was found parked near Tower 17 on the campus, where Muzammil had his quarters. "The diaries contain detailed plans of targeting multiple locations across the country, with Delhi being the primary focus. They also reveal how the group pooled finances, and handed large sums to Umar to purchase explosives, fertilisers and other bomb-making materials," a source involved in the probe said. The module's strategy, according to the sources, hinged on mobility and secrecy. The doctors planned to acquire or hire several vehicles to avoid detection, using them both to transport explosives and eventually as car bombs.

The investigation has also brought to light the role of Wasid, a resident of Dhauj village and close associate of Umar at the university. Wasid, sources said, was responsible for moving and hiding the cars used by the module.

According to sources, it was Wasid who parked the EcoSport in a desolate area in Khandawali village, using his family connections to avoid suspicion. Wasid's brother runs a motor workshop in Dhauj, which may have facilitated the group's access to vehicles and mechanical expertise. Wasid was detained from the university on Thursday.

"The doctors used their medical knowledge to handle dangerous materials. Vehicles were acquired, registered under different names, and moved between locations to avoid police scrutiny. The group conducted a recce in Delhi, likely using the EcoSport, before the i20 was detonated near Red Fort," an officer said.
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