Three individuals held in Nainital freed following detailed questioning by authorities

Three people who were detained in Nainital in connection with the recent Delhi blast case were released after thorough questioning, officials familiar with the matter said. One of the men detained was a cleric from a local mosque, and all three were questioned by central agencies, the state police, and the special task force.

According to senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manjunath TC, two people were picked up from the Banbhulpura area of Haldwani, and another was questioned in the Tallital area of Nainital. He said that different teams looked into several aspects related to national security while questioning the three individuals. After the teams completed the questioning and collected the required information, all three were released.

A senior officer of the Uttarakhand Police, who did not wish to be named, said two people including a maulana were detained around 1 am on Saturday and allowed to leave later in the evening after detailed questioning. Another person from Tallital was questioned separately and released after interrogation. The officer said the men were questioned mainly based on call details, and their mobile devices were checked. However, investigators did not find anything linking them to the Delhi blast.

The officer said the detentions were precautionary and part of the larger effort to examine all possible connections linked to the blast. Several agencies are collaborating to trace any communication or movement patterns that might help understand the incident better. So far, the inquiry has not shown any involvement of these three individuals.

Officials said the work on the case is still ongoing, and agencies are checking everything carefully to ensure no angle is missed. Investigators are trying to understand how the accused arrested in Delhi may have moved across states or contacted people elsewhere.

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Wider investigation in the state

A senior police official explained that the state police recently started checking possible links in Uttarakhand connected to the suspect arrested earlier for the blast. He said that officers are verifying movement records, communication data, and any other information that could show whether the accused had connections in the state. He clarified that if they find anything solid, it will be shared with the National Investigation Agency, which is leading the main probe.

The official added that the accused’s mobile phone has been seized, and officers are examining it to see if he contacted anyone from Uttarakhand. However, as of now, no such link has been found. The police emphasized that the investigation is still in progress and all leads will be checked completely.

Additional director general of police (intelligence) Abhinav Kumar said that the state police will fully cooperate if the investigation agency requires any support. He mentioned that the police have issued a security alert across the state until December 6. This is to ensure that the police remain prepared and alert in case any new information related to the case comes up.

Senior superintendent of police (STF) Navneet Singh Bhullar did not respond to calls seeking comment on the ongoing inquiry.

The incident that triggered this investigation occurred on November 10, when a major blast took place near the historic Red Fort in Delhi. A slow-moving Hyundai i20 exploded around 6.52 pm, killing 13 people and injuring several others. The explosion shocked the city and led to one of the largest multi-agency investigations in recent years.

Before this blast, various agencies had uncovered what they described as a “white collar terror module” linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. This network was found to have operations across Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Officials had seized nearly 2,900 kg of explosive material and arrested eight persons, including three doctors linked to Al Falah University.

Investigators are now trying to see whether this earlier module has any connection with the Delhi blast or the people arrested recently. Though nothing has been confirmed yet, officials say they are keeping all possibilities open.

As part of the ongoing investigation, agencies are checking whether the blast was carried out using local support or whether anyone outside Delhi helped the accused. The investigation teams are scanning digital footprints, travel routes, financial transactions, and older communication patterns of suspects.

Officials say their priority is to ensure public safety and prevent any further incidents. They are coordinating with state-level police units in different parts of North India to ensure information flows smoothly and quickly. Alerts have also been shared with other states to keep an eye on suspicious activities.

So far, the Uttarakhand Police have not found any solid link to the state. However, all districts have been asked to stay alert and report any unusual activity immediately. Police units have increased patrolling and coordination with intelligence wings to ensure a quick response if any lead appears.

The release of the three detained individuals in Nainital shows that agencies are working cautiously, checking every detail but also ensuring that no innocent person is wrongly held. The investigation is expected to continue until the agencies are fully confident that no connections remain unchecked.