Nagpur: The horrific car blast near Delhi’s iconic Red Fort on Monday evening sent shockwaves across the nation, claiming 12 lives and injuring over 25 people. The explosion, which occurred around 6.52 pm in a slow-moving Hyundai i20, was so powerful that nine nearby vehicles caught fire, leaving behind only their charred skeletons.
Taking serious cognizance of the incident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a high-level meeting and handed over the investigation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The probe will be led by senior IPS officer Vijay Sakhare, a Nagpur-born officer currently serving as Additional Director General (ADG) with the NIA.
The agency has constituted a 10-member special team under Sakhare’s command to uncover the motive and those behind the blast. Two DIGs, three SPs, and several DSP-rank officers will be part of the team, which will regularly brief NIA Director Sadanand Date on the progress.
From Nagpur to Delhi via Kerala
An alumnus of Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, Sakhare completed his engineering between 1989 and 1992, followed by studies at IIT Delhi (1992–93). He later pursued higher education at Harvard University, USA, before cracking the Civil Services in 1996.
A 1996-batch IPS officer of the Kerala cadre, Sakhare began his policing career as an ASP in several Kerala districts and later served as Superintendent of Police (2000–2004). His exceptional work earned him promotion as Commissioner of Police, Kochi, before he was inducted into the NIA as Inspector General (IG) three years ago. On September 8, 2025, the central government promoted him to the post of Additional Director General.
Tech-savvy and dynamic officer
Colleagues describe Sakhare as a computer expert and a hands-on investigator known for his methodical approach. A passionate tennis player and cricket enthusiast, he is admired for his discipline and leadership skills.
With a Nagpur-born officer now leading the NIA’s top investigation into the Red Fort car blast, the city once again finds its imprint on one of the nation’s most high-profile terror probes.
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