Delhi Police arrest drug user caught on Instagram, recover 10.34g smack
Synopsis
A Delhi man's Instagram video of alleged drug consumption led directly to his arrest — and the recovery of 10.34 grams of smack from his home. The case is a rare, concrete example of social media surveillance translating into a narcotics bust, highlighting how public posts are becoming evidentiary triggers for Delhi Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell, Central District , arrested Rehan , 27 , on 21 September 2026 after flagging his Instagram profile during proactive social media monitoring.
His public Instagram account, named 'Rehman_Khalnayak_307' , contained a video allegedly depicting narcotic substance consumption.
Police recovered 10.34 grams of smack from his residence in Takiya Sarai, Kale Khan area, Delhi .
351/2026 was registered on 22 September 2026 under Section 21 of the NDPS Act at I.P.
Estate police station.
Rehan has a prior criminal record spanning 5 FIRs across multiple Delhi police stations under the IPC, Arms Act, and NDPS Act.
Delhi Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell, Central District, arrested a 27-year-old man identified as Rehan on 21 September 2026 after his Instagram profile showed a video allegedly depicting narcotic substance consumption. A subsequent search of his residence in Takiya Sarai, Kale Khan area, Delhi, led to the recovery of 10.34 grams of smack, police said on Tuesday.
How the Arrest Unfolded
The operation began when proactive social media monitoring flagged an Instagram profile named 'Rehman_Khalnayak_307', which had posted a video purportedly showing the consumption of a suspected narcotic substance. Investigators subjected the profile and its associated details to further scrutiny and verification, eventually identifying the account holder as Rehan, a resident of the Kale Khan area in Delhi.
A dedicated police team apprehended Rehan on 21 September 2026. The team comprised Sub-Inspectors Monu Chauhan and Pankaj Kumar, ASIs Sudhir and Sunil, Head Constables Karnal, Dilshad, and Dharmendra, and Constables Deepak, Somveer, and Vikram. The operation was supervised by Inspector Rahul Singh Adhikari, In-Charge of the Anti-Narcotics Cell, Central District, under the overall oversight of ACP/Ops Central District Padam Singh Rana.
Contraband Recovered, FIR Registered
A search of the accused's residential premises yielded 10.34 grams of smack, described by police as narcotic contraband. In connection with the recovery, FIR No. 351/2026 dated 22 September 2026 was registered under Section 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at I.P. Estate police station. Further investigation is underway.
Accused's Prior Criminal Record
Police stated that Rehan has a history of involvement in several criminal cases across multiple Delhi police stations, including Daryaganj, I.P. Estate, Jama Masjid, Kamla Market, and Chandni Mahal. His prior cases include:
FIR No. 388/2021 under Sections 356/379/411/34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Daryaganj; FIR No. 82/2023 under Sections 356/379/34 IPC at I.P. Estate; FIR No. 200/2024 under Sections 356/379/411 IPC at Jama Masjid; FIR No. 11/2025 under Sections 25/54/59 of the Arms Act at Kamla Market; and FIR No. 290/2025 under Sections 27/61/85 of the NDPS Act at Chandni Mahal police station. Several additional cases involving theft and assault have also been registered against him at I.P. Estate police station, according to police.
Social Media Surveillance as a Policing Tool
The case underscores Delhi Police's growing reliance on proactive digital monitoring to detect drug-related activity. Notably, this approach — tracking public social media posts to identify and apprehend suspects — has been increasingly deployed by urban police forces across India amid rising narcotics cases in metro areas. The use of an openly posted Instagram video as the primary investigative trigger marks a shift from traditional informant-led operations.
Further investigation into the latest case is in progress, police confirmed.
Point of View
The same monitoring infrastructure, if unchecked, can be extended to lawful expression. With narcotics cases rising in Delhi and urban policing increasingly social-media-driven, the legal and ethical guardrails around such surveillance warrant public and judicial scrutiny that this case alone will not prompt.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Delhi Police identify and arrest the drug accused?
Delhi Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell identified the accused through proactive social media monitoring, after a video allegedly showing narcotic consumption was posted on a public Instagram profile named 'Rehman_Khalnayak_307'. The account holder, Rehan, was identified and arrested on 21 September 2026.
What was recovered from the accused and what charges have been filed?
Police recovered 10.34 grams of smack from Rehan's residence in Takiya Sarai, Kale Khan area, Delhi. FIR No. 351/2026 was registered on 22 September 2026 under Section 21 of the NDPS Act at I.P. Estate police station.
Does the accused have a prior criminal record?
Yes. According to police, Rehan has been previously involved in multiple criminal cases at Daryaganj, I.P. Estate, Jama Masjid, Kamla Market, and Chandni Mahal police stations, covering offences under the IPC, the Arms Act, and the NDPS Act.
What is smack and how is it classified under Indian law?
Smack is a street name for heroin or diacetylmorphine, classified as a narcotic drug under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Possession or consumption is a criminal offence under Section 21 of the Act, attracting rigorous imprisonment and fines depending on the quantity involved.
What happens next in the investigation?
Police have confirmed that further investigation into FIR No. 351/2026 is ongoing. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the recovered contraband and the accused's alleged wider activities, with additional details expected to emerge as the probe continues.
