ED raids 9 premises linked to 'Ganja Queen' Neetu Bai in Hyderabad
Synopsis
The Enforcement Directorate has moved beyond narcotics enforcement and into money-laundering territory, raiding nine Hyderabad premises linked to alleged 'Ganja Queen' Neetu Bai. With hawala channels and family-held assets now under scrutiny, this PMLA action could freeze far more than drugs — it targets the financial architecture of what investigators allege is a family-run cannabis empire.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate searched nine premises in Hyderabad on 3 September linked to alleged cannabis racket operator Neetu Bai .
The probe is registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) , based on FIRs by Telangana's EAGLE and the Prohibition and Excise Department .
Investigators are tracing alleged proceeds routed through hawala channels and invested in properties held by family members.
Neetu Bai's husband Munna Singh , sons Gautam and Govind , and a daughter are alleged co-participants in the operation.
A 2024 Cyberabad SOT raid at her Nanakramguda residence had already yielded 20 kg of ganja and ₹20 lakh in cash.
Neetu Bai remains an absconder across multiple FIRs; the ED is expected to share investigation details after the searches conclude.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday, 3 September conducted searches at nine premises in Hyderabad linked to alleged cannabis racket operator Neetu Bai, widely known as the 'Ganja Queen', as part of a money-laundering investigation. The action marks a significant escalation by the central agency against an accused who has remained at large across multiple narcotics cases registered by Telangana authorities.
Scope of the Raids
ED officials simultaneously searched properties across nine locations in Hyderabad, focusing on financial records, property documents, bank account details, and other materials that could help trace the alleged proceeds of crime. Investigators are examining whether funds generated from illegal cannabis sales were routed into immovable properties or other assets held in the names of family members or associates.
According to sources, the ED registered its case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on the basis of First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by Telangana's Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) and the state's Prohibition and Excise Department. The agency is probing the alleged proceeds generated through ganja sales and their subsequent handling, including suspected routing through hawala channels.
Who Is Neetu Bai
Neetu Bai is listed as an absconder in multiple FIRs registered by the Cyberabad Narcotics Police Station of EAGLE and the Excise Department. Her residence at Lodha Basti in Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, is suspected to have served as a hub for a family-run cannabis retail operation. Her husband Munna Singh, sons Gautam and Govind, and a daughter are alleged to have assisted in packaging and selling the contraband.
EAGLE officials had previously found several individuals — including software engineers — purchasing cannabis directly from her residence. In 2024, the Cyberabad Special Operation Team (SOT) raided her home and seized 20 kilograms of ganja and ₹20 lakh in cash. Despite being named in several cases, Neetu Bai has remained elusive.
Link to Nasha Mukt Bharat Campaign
The Hyderabad searches form part of a broader nationwide enforcement drive being carried out by the ED in narcotics-linked money-laundering cases under the Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign. The central agency has been coordinating with state police and excise departments across the country to target the financial networks underpinning drug trafficking.
Notably, this is the first major ED action specifically targeting Neetu Bai's alleged financial network, moving the case beyond narcotics enforcement into money-laundering territory — a step that carries significantly heavier legal consequences under PMLA.
What Comes Next
The ED is expected to release details of the investigation after concluding the searches. Investigators are likely to issue summonses or attachment orders if documentary evidence of proceeds of crime is found. Neetu Bai's continued absconding status means a lookout notice or non-bailable warrant could also follow, depending on the evidence gathered.
Point of View
If substantiated, would make this one of the more structurally significant drug-money cases out of Hyderabad in recent years. The real test is whether the ED can build an attachment order that holds up in the Appellate Tribunal, given that the primary accused remains at large.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the ED investigating Neetu Bai?
The ED is investigating Neetu Bai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, based on FIRs filed by Telangana's EAGLE and the Prohibition and Excise Department. The agency is probing the alleged proceeds from illegal cannabis sales and their suspected routing through hawala channels and property investments.
What is the 'Ganja Queen' case about?
Neetu Bai, nicknamed the 'Ganja Queen', is accused of running a family-operated cannabis retail network from her residence at Lodha Basti in Nanakramguda, Hyderabad. She is listed as an absconder in multiple FIRs and has reportedly evaded arrest despite a 2024 raid that seized 20 kg of ganja and ₹20 lakh in cash from her home.
What is the ED looking for in the raids?
ED officials are examining financial transactions, property documents, bank accounts, and other records to trace the alleged proceeds of crime. They are also investigating whether drug money was invested in immovable properties or assets held in the names of Neetu Bai's family members or associates.
How does this relate to the Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign?
The Hyderabad raids are part of the ED's nationwide enforcement drive under the Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign, which targets the money-laundering dimensions of narcotics trafficking. The central agency is coordinating with state police and excise departments across India in such cases.
What happens next in the investigation?
The ED is expected to release details after the searches are completed. If sufficient evidence of proceeds of crime is found, the agency could issue attachment orders against properties or summonses to associates. Neetu Bai's absconding status may also prompt a lookout notice or non-bailable warrant.
