9mm bullets recovered from site prohibited for civilian use

Two live cartridges and an empty shell that were recovered from the blast site near the iconic Red Fort were of 9mm caliber. These cartridges are only used by armed forces and prohibited for civilian possession, police sources said on Sunday.

The absence of a corresponding weapon has now prompted forensic experts to examine whether the cartridges were discharged at the spot or brought to the location as part of a staged attempt to mislead investigators.

Officials said the recovery had added a new dimension to the ongoing probe as investigators are also trying to verify whether it was linked to any terror or criminal network.

The 9mm caliber is prohibited for civilian use in India. Under the Arms Rules, 9mm ammunition falls under the “Prohibited Bore” category and its possession is restricted to military, police and other government security forces, or civilians with exceptional, threat-based licenses requiring state-level approval.

The Indian defense forces use several prominent weapons of 9mm caliber, including pistols, submachine gun carbine and micro uzi, among others.

Sources said security agencies, while analysing forensic and technical inputs, are also preparing to recreate the entire route of accused Umar Nabi from the time he left Faridabad, visited Nuh in Haryana and had tea in Delhi. They are also stitching together call records, tower locations, and CCTV footage from over 50 cameras.

“The reconstruction will include every check post crossed, all parking entries and each location he visited or halted at to identify whether any person met him, followed him or aided him. Connecting the dots is critical to understanding hours Umar spent in the NCR,” he said.

Meanwhile, angles of the probe continue to expand. Sources said security agencies were examining a strong hawala trail, suggesting that the arrested doctors - Muzammil and Shaheen - may have received funds routed through illegal channels. Initial scrutiny had indicated transactions of nearly Rs 20 lakh, suspected to have originated from foreign-based handlers. Investigators are verifying whether the amount was routed to the trio for procurement of chemicals and logistics.

Evidence recovered so far points to a structured financial link. Approximately Rs 3 lakh appears to have been spent on purchasing fertiliser.

In another development, the Delhi Police registered a fresh FIR under various sections of criminal conspiracy in the Red Fort blast investigation.

The Delhi Police Crime Branch has registered two cases of cheating and forgery against Al-Falah University in Faridabad after the UGC and NAAC reported “major irregularities” in its functioning. A police team also visited the university’s Okhla office on Saturday to collect records pertaining to individuals already under the scanner.

A slow-moving i20 car exploded near the historic Red Fort on November 10, killing 13 people.

The police have identified the man behind the wheel as Dr Umar Un Nabi, a medical practitioner at Al-Falah University, who evaded arrest when Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana Police recently busted a terror module in a joint operation. Around 12 persons, including several doctors, have been arrested in connection with the case.