Red Fort Blast Case: Delhi Court Extends NIA Custody of Bilal Naseer Malla, Sends Co-Accused to Judicial Custody
Delhi’s Patiala House Court extended NIA custody of Red Fort blast accused Dr Bilal Naseer Malla and remanded co-accused Soyab to judicial custody
A Delhi court on Friday extended by seven days the custody of Bilal Naseer Malla with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Red Fort blast case, while remanding co-accused Soyab to judicial custody for five days.
The NIA produced both accused before the Patiala House Court on the expiry of their earlier four-day custody granted on December 15. The proceedings were held amid tight security arrangements, with media persons barred from entering the courtroom.
Principal and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna allowed the investigating agency’s plea seeking further custodial interrogation of Dr Malla, noting the submissions made by the NIA.
The Court directed that Malla remain in NIA custody for an additional seven days. At the same time, the Court ordered that Soyab, a resident of Dhauj village in Haryana’s Faridabad district, be sent to judicial custody till December 24.
According to the NIA, Soyab was arrested for allegedly providing logistical support to Umar-un-Nabi, who is accused of carrying out the terror blast near the Red Fort. The agency has claimed that Soyab harboured Nabi and assisted him prior to the incident.
An official spokesperson for the NIA had earlier stated that Soyab played a crucial role in facilitating Nabi’s movements and shelter, thereby aiding the execution of the terror act. The agency is probing the wider conspiracy behind the blast, including the roles of individuals suspected of providing support and resources to the main accused.
Bilal Naseer Malla is also accused in the case, and the NIA has maintained that further custodial interrogation is necessary to uncover links, funding channels and the broader network involved in the alleged terror plot.
Notably, on December 3, the Court had extended the NIA custody of Jasir Bilal Wani, a key accused in the Red Fort blast case, for another 7 days. The NIA had arrested Bilal in Srinagar on Monday, i.e. November 17, alleging that he provided technical expertise to support planned terror attacks. According to the agency’s statement, Bilal was involved in modifying drones and exploring ways to fabricate rockets in the period leading up to the explosion. Investigators claimed Bilal worked in close coordination with Umar un Nabi, identified as the alleged suicide bomber, and played a critical role in operational preparations for the planned “terror carnage.” The agency has described him as a key link in the conspiracy chain.
In a related news, on November 29, the Court remanded four accused; Muzammil Ganaie, Adeel Rather, Shaheena Saeed and Maulvi Irfan Ahmed Wagay, to 10 days’ judicial custody in connection with the Red Fort blast case.
On November 26, the Court had extended by ten days the National Investigation Agency’s custody of Amir Rashid Ali in connection with the Red Fort blast case. Ali was produced before the Court on expiry of his 10 day NIA custody. The Court had also remanded another accused, Soyab, to ten days of NIA custody in the same case. He is accused of providing logistical support to the terrorist Umar before the November 10 car bombing that killed several persons and injured many others outside the Red Fort in the national capital.
Earlier, on November 16, the Delhi Court had remanded Amir Rashid Ali, arrested in connection with the deadly Red Fort blast, to 10 days’ custody of the NIA. Ali, who hails from Samboora in Pampore, was apprehended in Delhi on Sunday, i.e. November 16, for his alleged role in facilitating the vehicle used as the car-borne improvised explosive device.
As per NIA, Ali had travelled to Delhi last year to help procure the explosive-laden vehicle that detonated near the Red Fort on November 10, killing 13 people and injuring several others. Ali of Samboora in Pampore, was taken into custody in Delhi after a sustained search operation launched following the NIA’s takeover of the investigation from Delhi Police. The car used in the blast was registered in his name.
The agency continues to coordinate with Delhi Police, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, Uttar Pradesh Police and other central agencies to trace the broader network behind the attack. Multiple leads are being followed to identify additional suspects and establish the full extent of the conspiracy registered as RC-21/2025/NIA/DLI.
Hearing Date: December 19, 2025
Bench: Principal District and Sessions judge Anju Bajaj Chandna