In a significant turn in the investigation of the November 10 Delhi Red Fort car blast that killed 15 people, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) recovered ₹18 lakh in cash from terror suspect Dr Shaheen Shahid’s wardrobe in her Al-Falah University hostel room.
Dr Shaheen, one of the accused in the case, was recently brought to Faridabad for interrogation as the probe intensifies. Questions linger about the origin of this large sum, especially given prior revelations about her purchase of a Maruti Brezza vehicle in cash.
The NIA is probing the financial trails to uncover the funding sources and logistical networks behind the attack.
Cash Recovery Deepens the NIA’s Financial Probe
During a targeted and thorough search of Dr Shaheen’s Al-Falah hostel room, the NIA discovered ₹18 lakh wrapped simply in a polythene bag concealed within her wardrobe. This finding is crucial, indicating unaccounted financial transactions that could unravel the terror funding network.
According to NIA sources, the cash recovery is a substantial lead to track the money trail that possibly fueled the terror operations. Investigators are particularly scrutinising earlier purchases made by Dr Shaheen, including a Maruti Brezza car bought entirely in cash, which raised suspicions due to the unusually high liquidity involved.
A senior NIA official commented, “This cash amount and its concealment suggest attempts to evade detection and indicate deeper financial dealings within terror modules.”
The ongoing probe aims to map the sources of this money and potential links with groups operating across multiple states.
The Deadly Red Fort Blast and Expanding Terror Network
The November 10 blast near Delhi’s iconic Red Fort was a gruesome terror attack involving a Hyundai i20 car packed with high-grade explosives, including ammonium nitrate, which detonated amidst rush-hour traffic. The blast killed 15 people and wounded over two dozen others.
Initial investigations pointed toward a “white-collar” terror module involving medical professionals and others supporting terror activities. Dr Shaheen, a former medical doctor and teacher at Al-Falah University, is alleged to be one such module member aiding the attack’s planning and execution.
The NIA has been investigating multiple suspects spanning cities including Delhi, Faridabad, Lucknow, Kanpur, Saharanpur, and Jammu & Kashmir in connection with this terror network.
Key suspects previously apprehended include doctors and individuals linked to Pakistan-based terror outfits – Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH).
Investigations revealed a larger conspiracy planning attacks mimicking the scale of the 2008 Mumbai terror strikes, targeting landmarks such as the Constitution Club, Gauri Shankar Temple, and malls, along with the Red Fort.
The search for financial ties intensified after it was found that suspects, including Dr Shaheen, were conducting transactions involving hefty cash amounts, highlighting funding channels that require further unraveling.
Authorities also recovered nearly 2,900 kg of explosives during simultaneous raids in Faridabad and other locations, underpinning the gravity and sophistication of the terror plot.
Context and Investigation Developments
This blast and the subsequent probe come amidst heightened national security concerns over terror modules operating within the country using complex logistical, financial, and communication networks.
The investigation is multi-layered, with coordination from agencies like the NIA, Jammu and Kashmir police, and Haryana police to dismantle these terror cells.
Dr Shaheen’s interrogation moved to Faridabad following her arrest, where on-site questioning and searches yielded new leads including the cash recovery. The NIA is working to piece together her role, assess financial transactions, and identify co-conspirators.
These findings come amid public demands for both secure law enforcement action and fair judicial processes, given the sensitive nature of terror-related allegations.
Authorities are also investigating the broader impact of the terror module’s recruitment strategies, including attempts to involve women, as revealed in interrogations.
The case underscores the challenge of tackling terror networks that blend seemingly ordinary professions with extremist objectives, complicating detection and prevention efforts.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
While security agencies intensify their efforts to expose and neutralise terror networks, it is critical to balance these pursuits with safeguarding citizen rights and ethical governance.
The Logical Indian affirms the importance of maintaining peaceful coexistence and dialogue as essential tools against radicalisation and violence.
We underscore the vital need for due process and careful scrutiny, ensuring that justice serves not only security but also civil liberties.
In the larger social context, incidents like the Delhi Red Fort blast remind us that peacebuilding requires collective community engagement and empathy, aiming to address underlying grievances that fuel extremism.
