NIA Names Paediatrician Muzafar Ahmed Rather in Red Fort Blast Chargesheet
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has named absconding paediatrician Muzafar Ahmed Rather as a key architect of the November 10 car bomb blast near the Red Fort in Delhi. The agency announced the development on Saturday after filing a supplementary chargesheet before a special court on Friday.
The blast killed 12 people, including the suicide bomber, Umer Un Nabi. With the filing of the supplementary chargesheet, the total number of chargesheeted individuals in the case has risen to 13.
Alongside Muzafar Rather, the NIA indicted two other individuals, Zameer Ahmad Ahanger and Tufail Ahmad Bhat. All three of the newly accused are from Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the NIA, Muzafar Rather, who holds an MBBS and MD in paediatrics, is a founding member of the al Qaeda-linked terror group AGuH Interim. The agency identified him as one of the prime conspirators behind the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) blast. Rather is the elder brother of Adeel Ahmed Rather, a co-accused who was previously arrested in Saharanpur.
Investigations revealed that Muzafar Rather attended a secret meeting at Eidgah in Srinagar in June 2022 where AGuH Interim was formed. The NIA also alleged that he was involved in manufacturing, testing, and concealing TATP-based explosives at a clandestine facility run by Umer Un Nabi and Muzammil Shakeel at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana. A non-bailable warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The other newly indicted individuals allegedly played supporting roles. Zameer Ahanger worked as a courier, transporting arms, ammunition, and cash for the terror module. Tufail Ahmad Bhat, a former overground worker for the Lashkar-e-Taiba, allegedly procured an AK-47, a Krinkov rifle, a pistol, and ammunition, delivering them to the deceased bomber for Rs 3 lakh.
The NIA stated that the module operated under the code-name "Operation Heavenly Hind" with the goal of overthrowing the Indian government. This supplementary chargesheet follows a 7,500-page main chargesheet filed by the NIA on May 14, 2026, which named 10 other accused.
