1,700 kg of firecrackers recovered in multiple raids in Delhi ahead of Diwali

Delhi Police seized more than 1,700 kg of banned firecrackers and arrested seven individuals in a series of operations across the national capital ahead of Diwali this month, an official said on Sunday.

“The crackdown was carried out by the Crime Branch in several areas, including Dwarka, Rohini, Uttam Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Mukundpur, and Shahdara,” said Pankaj Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch).

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The operations were conducted in accordance with recent Supreme Court directives aimed at curbing the storage and sale of firecrackers to combat air pollution and protect public safety, he said. Delhi’s air quality typically deteriorates from October and remains poor throughout the winter.

The DCP stated that six men were arrested during the raids, and authorities seized 1,645 kg of fireworks along with a pickup truck.

In another raid conducted in northeast Delhi’s Mandoli, 106 kg of banned firecrackers were recovered from a grocery shop owner.

In the first operation, a team uncovered a stockpile of over 916 kg of banned firecrackers during coordinated raids in Dwarka, Rohini, and Uttam Nagar, he said.

“Acting on a tip-off, the team arrested 24-year-old grocery store owner Akash Gupta after seizing 13 cartons and a sack containing various banned firecrackers from his home,” the DCP stated.

While being interrogated, Gupta told the officers that he had procured the fireworks from a pickup driver, Chander Kant (36), who was later caught in Rohini with another 400 kg of illegal firecrackers in his vehicle.

Based on Chander Kant’s disclosure, police conducted a raid at the residence of 37-year-old Rishi Raj in Uttam Nagar and recovered an additional 182 kg of banned firecrackers, the officer said.

In a separate operation, a team arrested 34-year-old Rahul Sagar, a resident of Shastri Nagar, and seized 412 kg of illegal firecrackers from his home.

During the probe in this case, the officers got their hands on a 34-year-old man, Rahul Sagar, from Shastri Nagar, and confiscated 412 kg of illegal firecrackers from his residence.

Another raid took place in the Mukundpur, Bhalswa Dairy area, where 30-year-old Sonu was arrested, and 311 kg of banned firecrackers hidden inside a residential building, disguised as an LED bulb manufacturing unit, were recovered, the officer said.

A team also apprehended 34-year-old Vishal Sharma selling banned firecrackers in Ashok Nagar Market, Shahdara, and seized 106 kg of illegal stock from him.

Delhi Police seized 106 kg of illegal firecrackers from a grocery shop and arrested a man in Mandoli, northeast Delhi. Acting on a tip-off, a team carried out a raid at B-Block, Main Mandoli Road.

Police stated that the accused confessed to his involvement during interrogation, and a case has been filed at Jyoti Nagar police station.