Red Fort Blast Case: NIA Custody of Bilal Extended, Soyab Sent to Jail

New Delhi, Dec 15: A Delhi court on Friday extended the NIA custody of Dr Bilal Naseer Malla by seven days in connection with the Red Fort blast case, while co-accused Soyab was remanded to five days of judicial custody.

The National Investigation Agency produced both accused before the Patiala House Court after the expiry of their earlier four-day custody. Principal and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna allowed further custodial interrogation of Bilal till December 22, while Soyab was sent to judicial custody till December 24. Media persons were barred from the proceedings amid tight security.

According to the NIA, Soyab, a resident of Dhauj in Haryana’s Faridabad district, was arrested for allegedly providing logistical support to Red Fort bomber Umar-un-Nabi. Dr Bilal Naseer Malla was arrested in Delhi on December 9 and has been described by the agency as a key conspirator in the terror attack.

The probe agency has alleged that Bilal knowingly harboured Umar-un-Nabi, provided logistical assistance and was involved in destruction of evidence related to the blast.

So far, the NIA has arrested nine accused in the case, including doctors Dr Muzammil Ganaie, Dr Adeel Rather and Dr Shaheen Sayeed, religious preacher Maulvi Irfan, Amir Rashid Ali and Jasir Bilal Wani alias Danish. The ninth accused, Yasir Ahmad Dar of Jammu and Kashmir, was arrested on December 18 for his alleged active role in the conspiracy.

Umar-un-Nabi was driving the explosive-laden i20 car that detonated outside the Red Fort on November 10. (Agencies)