Argus News - Chilling Confession: Red Fort Blast Suspect Planned Attack On Diwali, Later Aborted It

New Delhi, Nov 12: In a major breakthrough in the investigation into the Red Fort blast, key suspect Dr. Muzammil Shakeel has revealed chilling details.

Muzammil, a senior doctor formerly associated with Al Falah University in Faridabad, disclosed during interrogation that he and his associate Dr. Umar Nabi had planned attacks on Diwali and Republic Day, targeting crowded areas in the national capital.

According to reports, Muzammil admitted to conducting a reconnaissance of the Red Fort area earlier this year, with the intention of executing a high-impact attack on January 26, 2026. He also confessed to planning a strike during Diwali, which was ultimately aborted due to undisclosed reasons.

The revelations came after investigators extracted critical data from Muzammil’s mobile phone, which confirmed his presence near the Red Fort and detailed communications with other suspects. Muzammil is currently in custody, while Umar, believed to be the suicide bomber, died in the car explosion near the Red Fort Metro Station on Monday evening.

The blast, which claimed eight lives and injured several others, has led authorities to uncover what they describe as a “white-collar terror ecosystem”. This network reportedly comprises highly educated professionals, including doctors and academics, many of whom were affiliated with Al Falah University.

Investigators from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state police forces have found that the group used encrypted communication channels for indoctrination, coordination, and fund transfers. Funds were allegedly raised under the guise of social and charitable causes, and used for logistics, arms procurement, and IED preparation.

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The Jammu and Kashmir police have indicated that the group was actively involved in radicalizing and recruiting individuals, leveraging professional networks to mask their operations. Raids conducted at Al Falah University have led to the detention of additional suspects and the recovery of explosive materials and weapons.

Security agencies continue to investigate the extent of the network and its connections to other regions. The incident has raised serious concerns about the infiltration of extremist ideologies into professional and academic institutions.