Delhi's Shahdara Police arrest 3 drug peddlers, seize 1.9 kg ganja in 2 days
Synopsis
In under 48 hours, Shahdara district police ran three separate drug operations — netting three accused with a combined 27 prior criminal cases and nearly 2 kg of ganja. The sweep points to a localised but persistent narcotics network in east Delhi, with police now probing the wider supply chain.
Key Takeaways
Shahdara district police arrested three alleged drug peddlers between 28 and 29 April 2025 .
A combined 1.944 kg of ganja was recovered across three separate operations.
The accused — Gaurav Gupta alias Kaliya (25) , Nizamuddin alias Tonu (36) , and Mukesh (32) — collectively have 27 prior criminal cases between them.
Operations were led by teams from Vivek Vihar and Farsh Bazar police stations; cases registered under the NDPS Act .
DCP Rajendra Prasad Meena confirmed efforts are underway to dismantle the wider supply network linked to the arrested individuals.
Shahdara district police in New Delhi arrested three alleged drug peddlers in a series of back-to-back operations between 28 and 29 April 2025, recovering a combined 1.944 kg of ganja across separate raids, officials said on Thursday, 30 April. The coordinated crackdown was carried out by teams from Vivek Vihar and Farsh Bazar police stations.
Operation 1: Vivek Vihar Team Nabs Accused Near Kasturba Nagar Underpass
On 29 April, a civil-dress patrol team from Vivek Vihar police station, led by Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Kuldeep and comprising Head Constables Manish and Naresh along with Constable Sachin, spotted a man attempting to flee near an underpass in the Kasturba Nagar area. The suspect was chased and apprehended, and a subsequent search of his bag yielded 650 grams of ganja.
The accused has been identified as Gaurav Gupta alias Kaliya, 25, a resident of Shahdara, who, according to police, has been previously involved in 12 criminal cases. A case has been registered against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Vivek Vihar police station.
Operation 2: Farsh Bazar Team Intercepts Suspect Near Keyan Banquet Hall
In a separate operation conducted late on 28 April, a team from Farsh Bazar police station intercepted a suspect near Keyan Banquet Hall during routine night patrolling. The individual's suspicious behaviour prompted a search, leading to the recovery of 779 grams of ganja — the largest single seizure across the three operations.
The accused has been identified as Nizamuddin alias Tonu, 36, a resident of Shahdara, with a prior criminal history of 10 cases. Police noted he is also listed as a bad character of the Farsh Bazar police station. A case has been registered under the NDPS Act.
Operation 3: Repeat Offender Caught Near Railway Line in Bholanath Nagar
On the night of 29 April, beat staff from Farsh Bazar police station apprehended a third suspect near the railway line in Bihari Colony, Bholanath Nagar. The individual attempted to evade police during routine patrol but was stopped and searched, leading to the recovery of 515 grams of ganja.
The accused, identified as Mukesh, 32, also a resident of Shahdara, has been previously involved in five criminal cases. The investigation was taken over by ASI Amit Kumar, and a case has been registered under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act.
What the Police Said
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Rajendra Prasad Meena said the successive operations underscore the district police's zero-tolerance approach towards drug-related offences. He added that efforts are underway to identify and dismantle the wider supply network linked to the three arrested individuals, with the stated aim of ensuring a safer, drug-free environment in the district.
Notably, all three accused are residents of Shahdara and carry significant prior criminal records — collectively accounting for 27 previous cases — suggesting a localised but entrenched drug distribution network in the area. Investigators are expected to pursue supply chain leads as the probe progresses.
Point of View
But the combined criminal record of the accused — 27 prior cases across three individuals — raises a harder question: why were repeat offenders still active on the same streets? The Shahdara operations reflect genuine on-ground effort, but the persistence of the same faces in drug networks points to systemic gaps in post-arrest monitoring and bail oversight. DCP Meena's promise to dismantle the supply chain is the right instinct; the test will be whether investigators move up the chain or stop at street-level peddlers, as has historically been the pattern in urban narcotics enforcement.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much ganja was seized in the Shahdara drug bust?
A total of 1.944 kg of ganja was seized across three separate operations conducted by Shahdara district police between 28 and 29 April 2025. The recoveries were 650 grams, 779 grams, and 515 grams respectively.
Who were the three accused arrested in the Shahdara drug operations?
The three accused are Gaurav Gupta alias Kaliya (25), Nizamuddin alias Tonu (36), and Mukesh (32), all residents of Shahdara, Delhi. Collectively, they have 27 prior criminal cases registered against them.
Under which law have the cases been registered?
All three cases have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the respective police stations — Vivek Vihar and Farsh Bazar — in Shahdara district.
What is the Shahdara police doing to tackle the wider drug network?
Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajendra Prasad Meena said investigators are working to identify and dismantle the broader supply network linked to the three arrested individuals. The focus is on tracing the source of the seized ganja and ensuring a drug-free environment in the district.
Which police stations conducted the Shahdara drug raids?
The operations were carried out by teams from Vivek Vihar police station and Farsh Bazar police station, both under the Shahdara district police in Delhi.
