Delhi Crime Branch busts Chinese manjha racket; 3 held, 1,398 reels seized
Synopsis
Delhi's Crime Branch intercepted a car near Guru Gobind Singh Hospital carrying 1,398 reels of banned Chinese manjha — one of the largest single seizures this season. With arrests made under both the BNS and the Environment Protection Act, investigators are now tracing the supply chain behind the haul, suggesting the operation was just one link in a larger network.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Crime Branch arrested three individuals on 12 August for illegally transporting and planning to sell banned Chinese/plastic manjha.
1,398 reels of prohibited kite string were seized, along with a Renault Triber used for transport.
The accused — Rajesh (33) , Asad (23) , and Sohail (19) — admitted involvement during interrogation.
A case was registered under Section 223(B) BNS and Sections 5/15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 .
Investigation is ongoing to trace the source of the contraband and identify others in the supply network.
Delhi Police's Crime Branch dismantled an illegal Chinese/plastic manjha network on Wednesday, 12 August, arresting three individuals and recovering 1,398 reels of the banned kite string along with the vehicle used to transport the contraband. The crackdown, carried out in West Delhi, underscores the persistent underground trade in synthetic manjha despite a standing ban by the Government of NCT of Delhi.
How the Operation Unfolded
The WR-I unit of the Crime Branch acted on specific intelligence about a large consignment of banned manjha in transit. A special team moved to a location near Ghode Wala Mandir, where a silver-coloured car was observed approaching from the Khayala–Paschim Vihar drain side toward Raghubir Nagar. An informer confirmed the vehicle was carrying the prohibited material.
Officers intercepted the car near Guru Gobind Singh Hospital and detained all three occupants. A search of the vehicle yielded multiple plastic bags and cardboard cartons packed with banned Chinese/plastic manjha — 1,398 reels in total. The Renault Triber used for the operation was also impounded.
Who Was Arrested
Rajesh, 33, a resident of J.J. Colony near Lokesh Cinema in Nangloi, who studied up to Class VI and works as a labourer, was among those held. Also arrested were Asad, 23, of Harsukh Block, Kirari Suleman Nagar, who studied up to Class X; and Sohail, 19, of Prem Nagar, an ITI-trained labourer. All three admitted during interrogation to transporting the manjha with the intent to sell it.
Legal Sections Invoked
A case was registered at Crime Branch Police Station, Pushp Vihar under Section 223(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 5/15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Investigators confirmed the material was being moved in direct violation of notifications issued by the Department of Environment, Government of NCT of Delhi, which prohibit the manufacture, sale, storage, and use of Chinese/plastic manjha.
What Investigators Are Pursuing
The probe is now focused on tracing the source of the contraband and identifying other nodes in the supply chain. Authorities believe the three arrested were part of a wider distribution network. This comes amid annual pre-festive enforcement drives, as demand for synthetic kite strings typically spikes around Independence Day and the kite-flying season that follows.
Point of View
Then the trade resurfaces. The seizure of 1,398 reels from a single vehicle points to organised supply, not opportunistic retail. Until investigators publicly name the upstream suppliers and the courts impose deterrent sentences, the arrests of low-rung transporters will remain a revolving door. The dual invocation of the BNS and the Environment Protection Act is notable — it signals intent to treat this as an environmental offence, not merely a public-order one, which carries heavier penalties and could change the calculus for future distributors.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chinese manjha and why is it banned in Delhi?
Chinese or plastic manjha is a synthetic kite string coated with glass or metal powder that can cause severe cuts to people, birds, and motorcyclists. The Government of NCT of Delhi has prohibited its manufacture, sale, storage, and use through notifications under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, citing serious public safety and environmental hazards.
How many reels of banned manjha were seized in the Delhi Crime Branch operation?
Delhi Police's Crime Branch seized 1,398 reels of banned Chinese/plastic manjha during the operation on 12 August. The material was recovered from a Renault Triber intercepted near Guru Gobind Singh Hospital in West Delhi.
Who were the three people arrested in the manjha bust?
The three arrested are Rajesh (33) of Nangloi, Asad (23) of Kirari Suleman Nagar, and Sohail (19) of Prem Nagar — all working as labourers. They admitted during interrogation to transporting the banned manjha with the intent to sell it.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
A case has been registered at Crime Branch Police Station, Pushp Vihar, under Section 223(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 5/15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
What is the next step in the investigation?
Investigators are working to trace the original source of the contraband and identify other members of the supply network. The three arrested are believed to be part of a larger distribution chain, and further arrests are possible as the probe continues.
