The Delhi Police Crime Branch on 27 October 2026 arrested a wanted mother-son duo — Neelam Rana, 47, and her son Rahul Rana, 27 — linked to an organised drug syndicate operating in west Delhi. Both are accused in cases registered under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, officials confirmed on Thursday.

Who Was Arrested and What They Face

Neelam Rana is the wife of Rajesh Rana alias Bunty, described by investigators as the head of the drug syndicate, who has already been charge-sheeted in the MCOCA case and is currently in judicial custody. The mother-son pair were wanted in FIR No. 74/2026, registered under Sections 3 and 4 of MCOCA at Tilak Nagar police station, and FIR No. 968/2021, registered under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act at Khyala police station.

Proceedings under Section 84 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had been initiated against both by the concerned courts. After completing necessary legal formalities, both were formally arrested under Section 35(1)(c) of the BNSS.

How the Arrests Were Made

A specialised team from the Western Range-II unit of the Crime Branch was constituted on the directions of DCP Harsh Indora, acting on specific intelligence received by Head Constable Pramod Kumar. The operation was led by Inspector Satish Malik under the supervision of ACP Raj Pal Dabas.

The team comprised Sub-Inspectors Anuj Chhikara and Pradeep Dahiya, Assistant Sub-Inspector Shreeom, and Head Constables Ravinder Singh, Pramod Kumar, and Azad. SI Anuj Chhikara and HC Ravinder Singh conducted technical surveillance to trace the fugitives. After sustained efforts, the accused were located at their residential premises in Bindapur and Mahavir Enclave, Delhi.

Criminal Background of the Accused

According to police, Neelam Rana has been involved in 13 criminal cases since 1995, spanning violations under the Excise Act and the NDPS Act. Non-bailable warrants were pending against her in two separate NDPS cases. Rahul Rana is also an accused in an NDPS case and a separate case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Investigators allege that Neelam began by selling liquor illegally in the Khyala and Tilak Nagar areas alongside her husband and his family, before allegedly graduating to procuring and distributing heroin — locally known as smack. Her son Rahul allegedly followed her into the drug trade. After Rajesh Rana's arrest, both mother and son reportedly went into hiding, frequently changing locations to evade law enforcement.

Significance of the MCOCA Charge

The invocation of MCOCA is notable — the Maharashtra law targeting organised crime syndicates is applied sparingly and requires evidence of a continuing unlawful activity generating financial gains. Its use here indicates that investigators believe the Rana family's drug operations constituted a structured criminal enterprise, not isolated offences. This is the latest in a series of Crime Branch operations against drug networks in west Delhi, an area that has drawn repeated police attention over trafficking routes.

With the syndicate's alleged leader already in judicial custody and his wife and son now arrested, authorities are expected to pursue further charge-sheets and asset recovery proceedings in the coming weeks.