Delhi Crime Branch seizes 423 kg of illegal firecrackers; three arrested

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police busted two illegal storage and sale networks, seizing 423 kilograms of banned firecrackers in coordinated raids across the Capital. Three persons have been arrested in the operation, officials said on Tuesday.

According to police, acting on specific inputs, two separate teams led by senior Crime Branch officers carried out simultaneous raids in Sadar Bazar and M.S. Park, Shahdara.

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“In Sadar Bazar, a team raided a premises in the Filmistan area where Ashutosh Mishra (24) and Aryan Dubey (20), both Delhi University students, were found with 148 kg of banned firecrackers concealed in eight large plastic bags,” said Vikram Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch).

The DCP added that the duo had procured the explosives through an online platform to resell during the festive season for profit. Both have no prior criminal record. An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the BNS and the Explosives Act at the Crime Branch police station.

In another case, a raid at Ashok Nagar Market in Shahdara’s M.S. Park led to the recovery of 275 kg of illegal firecrackers.

“The accused, Rakesh Kumar (52), a local wholesaler of festive goods with a prior offence for a similar crime, was arrested, and an FIR was registered in this case as well,” Singh said.

The total seizure of 423 kg underscores the persistence of the illegal firecracker trade in defiance of environmental and safety regulations. Further investigation is underway.