Bikaner Police freeze ₹1.41 crore drug smugglers' assets under Operation Neelkanth
Synopsis
Bikaner Police have gone beyond arrests — freezing ₹1.41 crore in properties, vehicles, and shops allegedly built on drug money. The move under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act targets the financial backbone of four accused, including a history-sheeter with 17 criminal cases. More freezes are reportedly in the pipeline under Operation Neelkanth.
Key Takeaways
Bikaner Police froze assets worth ₹1,41,85,000 under Operation Neelkanth as part of Rajasthan's anti-drug drive.
Action taken against four accused under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act , covering houses, plots, a shop, and vehicles.
Murad Ali , a history-sheeter with 17 criminal cases , had two properties belonging to his wife Mehrunishan frozen, valued at ₹1 crore .
Brothers Poonamchand Bishnoi and Premsukh Bishnoi alias Soni each face two NDPS Act cases ; their combined frozen assets are valued at approximately ₹41.85 lakh .
SP Mridul Kachhawa confirmed further asset freezes are under preparation against additional identified drug smugglers.
Bikaner Police has frozen illegal assets worth ₹1.41 crore allegedly acquired through drug trafficking, targeting properties and vehicles linked to four accused as part of Rajasthan Police's 'Operation Neelkanth' — an ongoing crackdown on organised crime and narcotics smuggling. The action, carried out under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act, was executed following orders from the competent authority.
Key Developments
The frozen assets, with a combined estimated market value of ₹1,41,85,000, include residential houses, plots, a house under construction, a shop, and vehicles. The operation is being conducted under the supervision of Bikaner Superintendent of Police Mridul Kachhawa, who confirmed that habitual offenders suspected of accumulating wealth through drug proceeds were specifically identified for the crackdown.
Assets Frozen and Accused Identified
Police froze two properties belonging to Mehrunishan, wife of Murad Ali, within the jurisdiction of Sadar Police Station. These include a residential house in Bhutto Ka Bas, Bikaner, valued at ₹36 lakh, and a residential plot in Rajiv Nagar near Chuna Bhattha, valued at ₹64 lakh — bringing the combined value to ₹1 crore.
According to police, Mehrunishan's husband Murad Ali is a history-sheeter with 17 criminal cases registered against him. His son Taliban alias Taliman faces 10 cases, while another son, Laden, faces five cases. Proceedings to open history sheets against both sons are also reportedly underway.
Separately, police acted against assets of Poonamchand Bishnoi, son of Jaysukhram alias Jassaram, under the jurisdiction of Ranjitpura Police Station. Frozen assets include a Mahindra Bolero Camper, an electric scooter, and a residential house at Chak 10 RDY, with a combined estimated value of ₹4.85 lakh. Action was also taken against his brother, Premsukh Bishnoi alias Soni, whose frozen assets — a house under construction at Chak 10 RDY and a shop at Chak 14 RDY — are valued at approximately ₹37 lakh. Police said two NDPS Act cases have been registered against each brother.
What the Police Said
SP Mridul Kachhawa said Bikaner Police has identified additional habitual drug smugglers suspected of holding assets acquired through drug proceeds. 'Records are currently being collected and property details verified,' he said, adding that once the process is complete, identified assets will be frozen under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act.
Bikaner Police has also appealed to the public to share information about organised criminals and drug smugglers, stating that such leads would strengthen efforts to curb the illegal drug trade and protect the younger generation from drug abuse.
Broader Context
This is not an isolated action. Operation Neelkanth represents a sustained institutional push by Rajasthan Police to dismantle the financial scaffolding of drug networks — not just arrest traffickers but seize the ill-gotten assets that sustain the trade. Asset-freezing under the NDPS Act is a relatively underused tool in state-level enforcement; its deployment here signals a shift toward economic disruption of narcotics supply chains. This comes amid growing concern over drug trafficking routes through Rajasthan, a state that shares borders with drug-transit corridors.
Point of View
Not just the operational one. However, the real test is judicial: frozen assets can be contested in court, and convictions under the NDPS Act that permanently strip accused of property remain far fewer than arrests. The inclusion of a history-sheeter with 17 cases — still allegedly trafficking — also raises questions about why prior enforcement did not result in conviction. Operation Neelkanth's durability will be measured not in crores frozen but in cases that hold up at trial.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Neelkanth?
Operation Neelkanth is an ongoing Rajasthan Police initiative targeting organised crime and drug smuggling networks across the state. It involves arrests, surveillance, and asset freezes under the NDPS Act to dismantle the financial infrastructure of drug trafficking operations.
Under which law were the assets frozen in Bikaner?
The assets were frozen under Section 68-F of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which allows authorities to attach properties believed to have been acquired through drug trafficking proceeds, following orders from a competent authority.
Who are the accused whose assets were frozen?
The four accused are Mehrunishan (wife of Murad Ali), Murad Ali's sons Taliban alias Taliman and Laden, Poonamchand Bishnoi, and Premsukh Bishnoi alias Soni. Murad Ali himself has 17 criminal cases registered against him.
What types of assets were seized?
The frozen assets include residential houses, residential plots, a house under construction, a commercial shop, a Mahindra Bolero Camper, and an electric scooter — with a total estimated market value of ₹1,41,85,000.
Will more assets be frozen under Operation Neelkanth?
Yes. SP Mridul Kachhawa confirmed that Bikaner Police have identified additional habitual drug smugglers and are currently collecting records and verifying property details. Further asset freezes under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act are expected once the verification process is complete.
