Operation Neelkanth: 3 held with 119g narcotics, ₹12.33 lakh in Vaishali
Synopsis
A family of three — father, son, and daughter-in-law — was arrested after Vaishali Police found 119.30 grams of narcotics and over ₹12 lakh in cash at their home in Baguliya Gachhi village. The son, Neeraj Kumar, was already a named accused in a two-year-old murder case, suggesting a deeper criminal trail that investigators are now racing to unravel.
Key Takeaways
Vaishali Police and the Bihar Prohibition Department arrested three persons on 3 November 2025 during a midnight raid at Baguliya Gachhi village, Bidupur .
Seized: 119.30 grams of narcotics (including approximately 56g brown sugar and 50g smack ), three mobile phones , and ₹12,33,160 in cash.
Those arrested: Pawan Thakur , his son Neeraj Kumar , and Neeraj's wife Bhanu Kumari .
Neeraj Kumar was a named accused in a murder case in Kanchanpur village about two years ago .
An FIR has been registered at Bidupur police station ; police are probing the wider supply chain and financial network.
The raid is part of an ongoing district-wide campaign led by Vaishali's SSP under 'Operation Neelkanth' .
Vaishali Police, in a joint operation with the Bihar Prohibition Department, arrested three persons and seized 119.30 grams of narcotics and ₹12.33 lakh in cash during a midnight raid in the Bidupur police station area on Monday, 3 November 2025, under 'Operation Neelkanth'. The operation, conducted at Baguliya Gachhi village under Mail Panchayat, follows a tip-off received jointly by the Bihar Police and the State Narcotics Control Bureau (SNCB), Patna.
What the raid uncovered
Acting on intelligence, the joint team cordoned off the suspected premises and conducted a detailed search. Officers recovered approximately 56 grams of brown sugar and 50 grams of smack, together accounting for the bulk of the 119.30 grams of narcotics seized. In addition, three mobile phones and ₹12,33,160 in cash were found in the possession of the accused. According to police, the cash is suspected to be proceeds of the illegal narcotics trade.
Who was arrested
The three persons taken into custody have been identified as Pawan Thakur, his son Neeraj Kumar, and Neeraj's wife Bhanu Kumari. Notably, investigators say Neeraj Kumar was already a named accused in a murder case that occurred in Kanchanpur village approximately two years ago, adding another dimension to his alleged criminal history. All three are currently under interrogation.
Scope of the investigation
Investigators are working to establish the source of the seized narcotics and cash, as well as the precise roles of each arrested individual in the alleged procurement, sale, and supply of contraband. Police are also examining the possible supply chain and financial transactions linked to the accused, and are attempting to identify others who may be part of the suspected drug trafficking network. An FIR has been registered at Bidupur police station, and legal proceedings are underway.
Operation Neelkanth: the broader campaign
The raid forms part of a district-wide anti-narcotics drive launched under the direction of Vaishali's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). Under 'Operation Neelkanth', police and the Prohibition Department are conducting coordinated action against suspected drug networks across the district. This is one of several enforcement actions the district has seen in recent months as authorities intensify pressure on illicit supply chains. The investigation is ongoing.
Point of View
Making them harder to penetrate and easier to deny. That Neeraj Kumar was already a named accused in a murder case and remained active suggests either a gap in the surveillance net or delayed follow-through on prior criminal proceedings. The ₹12.33 lakh in cash is disproportionate to a minor retail operation, indicating a mid-tier node rather than a street-level seller. Operation Neelkanth's coordination between police and the Prohibition Department is the right structural response, but its real test lies in whether arrests translate into network dismantling rather than isolated seizures.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Vaishali narcotics raid on 3 November 2025?
Police seized 119.30 grams of narcotics — comprising approximately 56 grams of brown sugar and 50 grams of smack — along with three mobile phones and ₹12,33,160 in cash. The seizure was made at Baguliya Gachhi village in the Bidupur police station area of Vaishali district.
Who were the three persons arrested in the Vaishali drug bust?
The arrested individuals are Pawan Thakur , his son Neeraj Kumar , and Neeraj's wife Bhanu Kumari , all residents of Baguliya Gachhi village. According to police, Neeraj Kumar was already a named accused in a murder case registered about two years ago in Kanchanpur village.
What is Operation Neelkanth?
Operation Neelkanth is a district-wide anti-narcotics campaign in Vaishali launched under the direction of the district's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) . It involves coordinated raids by the Bihar Police and the State Prohibition Department targeting suspected drug trafficking networks.
What are the police investigating next?
Investigators are working to trace the source and supply chain of the seized narcotics, map financial transactions, and identify other individuals potentially linked to the trafficking network. All three arrested persons are currently being interrogated, and an FIR has been registered at Bidupur police station.
Why is the recovered cash significant?
Police suspect the ₹12,33,160 in cash was generated through the illegal narcotics trade, pointing to an organised operation rather than casual street-level dealing. Establishing the money trail is a key part of the ongoing investigation.
