A Delhi court on Wednesday extended the National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody of five accused in the Red Fort blast case, including three doctors and a maulvi, till January 16. The extension was granted to allow further interrogation and examination of their role in the deadly attack.

The accused—Dr Adeel Rather, Dr Shaheen Saeed, Dr Muzammil Ganaie, Maulvi Irfan Ahmad Wagay, and Jasir Bilal Wani—are alleged to possess exclusive knowledge about key aspects of the blast. NIA’s remand plea stated that they must be confronted with other co-accused, witnesses, and suspects to resolve contradictions in testimonies.

According to the agency, technical analysis of digital devices seized from the accused revealed “code words” and other incriminating material that need further clarification. The NIA argued that these details are critical to understanding the sequence of events across Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi-NCR.

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The agency also emphasized the need to trace communications, movements, and networks linked to the case. A “crime simulation” is reportedly planned to reconstruct the events surrounding the blast, which killed 15 people when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive-laden vehicle outside the Red Fort on November 10 last year.

So far, the NIA has arrested nine individuals in connection with the incident. The latest custodial extension underscores the agency’s efforts to uncover the larger conspiracy and identify additional persons involved, as the investigation intensifies ahead of further hearings.

The court’s decision ensures that interrogations continue under judicial supervision, as authorities work to piece together the complex chain of planning, execution, and coordination behind one of India’s deadliest terror attacks in recent years.

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