Rajasthan Police freeze ₹3.37 crore assets of drug trafficker Kaushalaram in NDPS action
Synopsis
Rajasthan Police have struck at the financial roots of an alleged drug network in Barmer, freezing ₹3.37 crore in assets — vehicles, land, buildings, a mining lease, and a liquor shop — belonging to history-sheeter Kaushalaram Legha, who faces 17 criminal cases and links to over 4,465 kg of seized poppy husk. It is a rare use of the NDPS Act's asset-freezing provisions to cut off trafficker finances at the source.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Police froze assets worth ₹3,36,79,665 belonging to history-sheeter Kaushalaram Legha and his family in Barmer on 10 November 2026 .
The freeze covers four vehicles , residential properties, agricultural land, a masonry stone mining lease, and a liquor shop.
Kaushalaram faces 17 criminal cases ; approximately 4,465.60 kg of poppy husk has been seized across 7 NDPS cases linked to him.
The initial freezing order was issued on 9 October 2026 under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act and confirmed by the Competent Authority in New Delhi .
The action is part of a statewide campaign directed by Rajasthan DGP Rajeev Kumar Sharma to dismantle drug-trafficking financial networks.
Under Section 68-M of the NDPS Act , any transfer of the frozen assets will be null and void.
Rajasthan Police on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, froze assets worth ₹3,36,79,665 allegedly acquired through drug trafficking by history-sheeter Kaushalaram Legha and his family members in Barmer district. The action, taken under Chapter 5-A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, was confirmed by the Competent Authority and Administrator in New Delhi following a formal hearing.
What Was Frozen and Why
The frozen assets span four vehicles — a Toyota Hilux pickup, Hyundai Creta, Mahindra Bolero Camper, and Mahindra Scorpio — along with residential properties, including an under-construction house in Sauo Ki Dhani, Bhojasar; a residential plot and a three-storey building in Maa Viratra Vihar-6, Balotra; two murabbas of agricultural land in Ramgarh, Jaisalmer district; a masonry stone mining lease; and a liquor shop.
The properties are registered in the names of Kaushalaram, his wife, brother, and sister-in-law. A financial investigation by Baytu Station House Officer (SHO) Khetaram reportedly found that the family had no known legitimate source of income sufficient to account for these acquisitions. Police concluded the assets were purchased using proceeds from drug trafficking.
The Accused: 17 Cases, 4,465 kg of Contraband
Kaushalaram, son of Kherajram, is a resident of Sauo Ki Dhani under the jurisdiction of Baytu Police Station. He faces 17 criminal cases, several registered under the NDPS Act. According to police records, approximately 4,465.60 kg of poppy husk (doda post) has been seized across seven NDPS cases linked to him. In one case registered at Siwana Police Station, 1,249.8 kg of poppy husk was recovered from three vehicles linked to the accused. Other cases have been registered at Siriyari, Nimbahera Sadar, Chhoti Sadri, Sumerpur, Siwana, and Gida police stations. Opium and MD-related narcotic substances have also been seized in connection with these cases.
Legal Process and Official Orders
An initial order to freeze the properties was issued on 9 October 2026 under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act. The matter was then referred to the Competent Authority in New Delhi, which confirmed the freezing orders after a hearing. Under Section 68-M of the NDPS Act, any transfer of these assets will be considered null and void.
Police are now notifying relevant departments — including Transport, Revenue, Registration, Municipal Council, Excise, and Mining — along with concerned banks to ensure compliance. Notice boards have been installed at the residential properties informing the public of the freeze.
Part of a Statewide Anti-Drug Campaign
According to District Superintendent of Police Choonaram Jat, the action is part of a statewide drive launched on the directions of Rajasthan Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar Sharma to target drug traffickers and dismantle their financial networks. The operation was supervised by Additional SP Nitesh Arya and Baytu Circle Deputy SP Deependra Saini.
The Barmer Police stated that the objective is to deprive drug traffickers of their financial gains and weaken the economic foundations of organised drug networks. The public has been urged to share information about any additional assets allegedly acquired by Kaushalaram through drug trafficking, with confidentiality guaranteed for informants. Similar actions against drug traffickers and illegally acquired assets are expected to continue.
Point of View
Leaving criminal networks financially intact. This Barmer action, targeting a figure with 17 cases and over 4,465 kg of seized contraband, signals a deliberate shift toward disrupting the economic engine of drug networks rather than just the supply chain. The real test will be whether such orders survive legal challenge and lead to forfeiture — freezing is only the first step, and confirmed forfeiture cases under Chapter 5-A are still uncommon. If Rajasthan sustains this model at scale, it could serve as a template for other states struggling with the poppy-husk trade in the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh corridor.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What assets have been frozen by Rajasthan Police in the Kaushalaram Legha case?
Police have frozen assets worth ₹3,36,79,665, including four vehicles (Toyota Hilux, Hyundai Creta, Mahindra Bolero Camper, Mahindra Scorpio), residential properties in Bhojasar and Balotra, agricultural land in Jaisalmer district, a masonry stone mining lease, and a liquor shop. The properties are registered in the names of Kaushalaram, his wife, brother, and sister-in-law.
Under which law was the asset freeze carried out?
The freeze was carried out under Chapter 5-A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, specifically Section 68-F. The Competent Authority and Administrator in New Delhi confirmed the orders after a formal hearing.
Who is Kaushalaram Legha and what cases does he face?
Kaushalaram Legha is a history-sheeter from Sauo Ki Dhani, Bhojasar, under Baytu Police Station in Barmer, Rajasthan. He faces 17 criminal cases, several under the NDPS Act, with approximately 4,465.60 kg of poppy husk seized across seven linked cases.
Can the frozen assets be sold or transferred?
No. Under Section 68-M of the NDPS Act, any transfer of the frozen assets will be considered null and void. Police are notifying Transport, Revenue, Registration, Municipal Council, Excise, Mining departments and banks to enforce compliance.
Is this a one-off action or part of a larger campaign?
This is part of a statewide campaign launched on the directions of Rajasthan Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar Sharma to target drug traffickers and dismantle their financial networks. Barmer Police have confirmed that similar actions against suspected drug-linked assets will continue.
