590 kg illegal firecrackers worth ₹50 lakh seized from Jama Masjid shop, 2 arrested
Synopsis
Delhi Police uncovered a sophisticated hidden chamber behind a false wooden ceiling in a Jama Masjid shop, finding 590 kg of banned firecrackers worth ₹50 lakh stashed there ahead of the festive season. Two men from Adarsh Nagar have been arrested and a third supplier is being traced — suggesting this was not a lone operation.
Key Takeaways
590 kg of illegal firecrackers valued at ₹50 lakh were seized from SS & Sons Ram Dass Janki Dass , a shop at Bazar Guliyan, Jama Masjid , on 11 October 2026 .
The stock was hidden inside a concealed 4 × 4 feet sliding-panel compartment above the shop's wooden ceiling.
Two accused — Janki Dass and Abheek Dass , residents of Adarsh Nagar, Delhi — were arrested and handed to the local police.
534/2026 ) has been registered under the BNSS and the Explosives Act, 1884 at PS Jama Masjid .
Both accused reportedly admitted their involvement and named a third person as the supplier; investigation is ongoing.
Police in New Delhi on Sunday, 11 October 2026, seized 590 kg of illegal firecrackers worth an estimated ₹50 lakh from a shop in the Jama Masjid area, arresting two persons in connection with the haul. The crackdown, carried out ahead of the festive season, uncovered a concealed storage chamber hidden behind a false ceiling at the premises.
How the Raid Unfolded
The Vigilance branch of the Central District had been directed to conduct surprise inspections of market areas to curb illegal storage and sale of firecrackers before the festive period. Acting on intelligence gathered through secret informers, police zeroed in on a shop at No. 1110, Bazar Guliyan — a unit trading under the name SS & Sons Ram Dass Janki Dass.
A raiding team comprising Sub-Inspectors Parmendra Kumar and Narender, Assistant Sub-Inspector Bijender, Head Constable Sunny, and Constables Gurcharan and Rajesh arrived to find the shop's signboard concealed beneath a white plastic sack. At first glance, the premises appeared empty — only wooden and glass display cases were visible inside.
The Hidden Storage Chamber
A closer inspection of the wooden ceiling revealed a marked panel measuring approximately 4 × 4 feet, fitted with a sliding mechanism. Behind it lay a large concealed cavity stacked with banned firecrackers. On weighing, the total seized stock came to approximately 590 kg, with a market value estimated at ₹50 lakh.
Notably, the deliberate concealment of the signboard and the sophisticated false-ceiling compartment point to a premeditated operation rather than casual non-compliance — a detail investigators are likely to pursue during further inquiry.
Accused Identified, FIR Registered
Two individuals — Janki Dass and Abheek Dass, both residents of Adarsh Nagar, Delhi — were apprehended at the site and handed over to the local Jama Masjid Police Station for further proceedings. During initial questioning, both reportedly admitted their involvement and disclosed that the firecrackers had been supplied by a third person, whose identity officials did not immediately make public.
An FIR bearing No. 534/2026 has been registered at PS Jama Masjid under Sections 288/223(b) of the BNSS and Sections 5/9(B) of the Explosives Act, 1884. Local police have taken over the investigation.
Context: Pre-Festive Enforcement Drive
The seizure is part of a broader pre-festive enforcement campaign, as authorities across Delhi intensify vigilance against the illegal trade in firecrackers — a recurring flash point each year before Diwali. This comes amid ongoing restrictions on certain categories of firecrackers in the capital, linked to air quality concerns. This is not the first time the Jama Masjid market belt has been targeted in such drives; the area's dense commercial lanes have historically been a focus of enforcement actions ahead of the festive calendar.
With a third accused still at large, investigators are expected to trace the supply chain to determine the scale of the larger network behind the consignment.
Point of View
A covered signboard, an apparently vacant shopfront — is not the profile of casual hoarding. It suggests a supply chain with some planning and, potentially, prior runs. Authorities have one loose thread: the unnamed supplier. Whether investigators can roll that lead into a larger network will determine whether this seizure is a headline or a genuine disruption. Pre-Diwali crackdowns in Delhi are a fixture, but the recurrence of large hauls in the same belt raises a harder question about why enforcement remains reactive rather than year-round.
NationPress
11 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Jama Masjid firecracker raid?
Police seized approximately 590 kg of illegal firecrackers with an estimated market value of ₹50 lakh from a shop named SS & Sons Ram Dass Janki Dass in Bazar Guliyan, Jama Masjid, New Delhi. The stock was hidden inside a concealed compartment behind a false wooden ceiling.
Who was arrested in the Jama Masjid firecracker case?
Two persons — Janki Dass and Abheek Dass, both residents of Adarsh Nagar in Delhi — were arrested at the scene. They were handed over to the local Jama Masjid Police Station for further investigation.
What charges have been filed in the case?
An FIR numbered 534/2026 has been registered at PS Jama Masjid under Sections 288/223(b) of the BNSS and Sections 5/9(B) of the Explosives Act, 1884. Both accused reportedly admitted involvement and disclosed that the firecrackers were supplied by a third party.
Why are firecrackers being seized ahead of the festive season in Delhi?
Delhi authorities routinely intensify raids before Diwali to enforce restrictions on certain categories of firecrackers, primarily linked to the capital's air quality concerns. The Vigilance branch of the Central District had been specifically directed to conduct surprise checks in market areas this year.
Is there a larger supply chain being investigated?
Yes, according to officials, both arrested individuals disclosed that the firecrackers were supplied by another person who has not yet been apprehended. Local police are continuing the investigation to trace the full supply chain.
