Image for representational purposes only.

New Delhi:

For years, she stayed untouchable. But the law finally caught up with the ‘Lady Don’ of Delhi. Zoya Khan, the wife of notorious gangster Hashim Baba, was arrested for possessing 270 grams of heroin, worth approximately Rs 1 crore in the international market. 

Zoya, 33, had long been on the radar of law enforcement but always managed to stay a few steps ahead. She managed her jailed husband’s criminal empire by running his gang while ensuring that no direct evidence could link her to illegal activities. Despite suspicions about her role, the police had never been able to build a solid case — until now.

Hashim Baba has dozens of cases against him, ranging from murder and extortion to arms smuggling. Zoya Khan is his third wife. Before marrying Hashim Baba in 2017, Zoya was married to another man. After her divorce, she came into contact with Baba. The two were neighbours in North East Delhi where they fell in love. 

Empire Of Crime

After Baba was jailed, Zoya took over the gang’s operations. According to sources, Zoya’s role in her husband’s gang was that of Haseena Parkar, the sister of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who once controlled his illegal businesses. Sources in the Delhi Police Special Cell say that Zoya was deeply involved in managing extortion and drug supply.

Unlike a typical crime boss, Zoya maintained a certain image. She attended high-profile parties, flaunted expensive clothes, and indulged in luxury brands – details evident from her social media presence where she enjoys a large following. 

Zoya frequently visited her husband in Tihar Jail. Police sources say Baba trained her in coded language, giving her tips and advice on how to manage the gang’s finances and operations. She also maintained direct contact with his associates outside prison, as well as with other criminals.

For years, the Special Cell and Crime Branch of the Delhi Police struggled to catch her. This time, however, the Special Cell succeeded. Acting on intelligence, the police arrested Zoya in the Welcome area of North East Delhi. She was caught red-handed with a large quantity of heroin, allegedly sourced from Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar for further distribution.

The police suspect that Zoya also provided shelter to shooters involved in the Nadir Shah murder case. Mr Shah, a gym owner in South Delhi’s posh Greater Kailash-1 area, was shot dead in September 2024. Last month, she was interrogated at the Lodhi Colony office of the Special Cell in connection with the shooting. 

Family Background 

For Zoya, crime is a family enterprise. Her mother was jailed in 2024 for her alleged involvement in a sex trafficking ring. She is currently out on bail. Her father was linked to drug supply networks. Zoya herself operated from different locations in North East Delhi, particularly Usmanpur, always surrounded by 4-5 armed henchmen –loyalists of her gangster husband. 

The North East Delhi region has long been associated with criminal gangs, including the Chhenu gang, the Hashim Baba gang, and the Nasir Pehelwan gang, among others. While these groups initially focused on drug trafficking, their conflicts have resulted in a series of violent murders after 2007.

Baba’s gang amassed massive extortion revenue, much of which was funnelled to Zoya. 

Links To Lawrence Bishnoi

Baba’s name surfaced in the Nadir Shah murder case last year. While in Tihar Jail, he allegedly confessed to his role in the killing and implicated Lawrence Bishnoi – another jailed gangster who runs a massive network of shooters, involved in the murder of musician Sidhu Moose Wala and the firing incident outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s Mumbai residence. 

According to the police, Baba and Bishnoi developed ties during the former’s imprisonment in 2021. Despite being held in separate jails, they maintained contact through illicit phone lines and video calls, coordinating criminal activities from behind bars.

New Delhi:

Three men have been arrested from Manipur with 10 kilograms of high-grade heroin worth over Rs 50 crore in the international market, an official said on Thursday.

The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has claimed to dismantle an inter-state narcotics syndicate with the arrest of — Mitralal Khatiwoda alias Manoj (45), Krishna Neopani (21), and Akash Karki (25) — all residents of Manipur.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik said the Special Cell unit had been tracking an inter-state drug network operating across Manipur, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR.

The syndicate was actively involved in smuggling heroin from Myanmar into India via Manipur and further distributing it across different states, Kaushik said.

He said investigators spent more than four to five months gathering intelligence through technical and manual surveillance. During this period, police teams visited West Bengal and Manipur multiple times to track the movement of the traffickers and develop local sources.

On January 23, a raiding team was formed based on a tip-off about Mitralal and Akash, who were planning to deliver a heroin consignment in Delhi’s Mangolpuri Industrial Area, the officer said.

The two arrived at the designated spot in an e-rickshaw along with their associate Krishna and as soon as they were identified by the informer, police apprehended all the three suspects, he added.

A thorough search led to the recovery of 10 kilograms of high-quality heroin, hidden inside their belongings, he said, adding that a case was registered an investigation was launched.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that they were part of a well-organised drug syndicate that smuggled heroin from Myanmar into India, DCP Kaushik said.

The operation began with raw opium being procured from the Myanmar border, which was then processed into heroin in Thoubal, Manipur, police said.

The drug was subsequently transported via carriers to Dimapur (Nagaland), Guwahati (Assam), and Siliguri (West Bengal), before reaching Delhi-NCR, officials said.

Traffickers concealed heroin in secret cavities within trucks to evade detection, making it nearly impossible to spot during routine checks, police said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

More than 25,000 security personnel and over 15 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in Delhi for Thursday’s oath ceremony of the new chief minister at Ramlila Maidan, a police officer said.

The ceremony is likely to be attended by top party leaders, including chief ministers from BJP-governed states.

“We have deployed more than 25,000 police personnel and over 15 companies of paramilitary forces,” the officer said and added “robust” security arrangements were in place to maintain law and order.

“More than 5,000 police and paramilitary force personnel are deployed in and around Ramlila Maidan. Around 2,500 strategic points were identified where heavy deployment has already been made,” he added.

First-time MLA Rekha Gupta will be the new chief minister of Delhi, capping 11 days of suspense over who would get the top post following the BJP’s return to power after more than 26 years, ending the 10-year rule of the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP.

Ms Gupta (50) was chosen as Leader of the House in the Delhi Assembly at the BJP legislature party meeting late on Wednesday, senior BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad announced.

Ms Gupta later met Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and staked claim to form the government.

Only authorised people will be allowed near the venue and a proper traffic plan has been chalked out, the police said.

Along with other emergency response teams, multiple layers of barricades will be set up to ensure the dignitaries’ safety and security.

Around 50,000 people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Cabinet colleagues and chief ministers of National Democratic Alliance-governed states, among others, are expected to attend the ceremony.

The police said commandos, quick reaction teams, PCR vans, and SWAT teams had been deployed at strategic locations while snipers were positioned at high-rise buildings nearby.

Every nook and cranny are being monitored through AI-based facial recognition CCTV cameras, they added. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

In a twisted turn of events, a team of Delhi police – who went to Uttar Pradesh’s Lalitpur to arrest two constables – were detained by the UP police. The incident took place on Tuesday when five police personnel from Delhi were conducting raids in connection with a Rs 1.5 crore fraud case.

According to officials, the Delhi police team reached Lalitpur to arrest three people, including two cops from Lalitpur – without any written order and official permission from the UP police.

The team, dressed in casual clothes and armed with weapons, arrived in a private vehicle and entered the Lalitpur police station without any prior information, the UP police said. They arrested the two police personnel – Vishwajeet and Sachin Awasthi – from their government residence, and the third accused, Bikki Raja, from his house in Lalitpur.

When the Lalitpur police were informed about the arrests, they stopped the Delhi team mid-way. After a heated exchange between the two, the Lalitpur police detained the team of Delhi cops, including Police Inspector Darshan Singh. They were questioned for the entire day and were only freed after they apologised, officials said.

“The team of Delhi police had come here to arrest one of our constables in a fraud case. But they did not follow any protocol and arrived here without informing us,” a top official of the UP police said.

“We found that the person (Ankit Jain) who tipped the Delhi police…his sister had started a company in which one of the accused’s (Sachin) brother Vishwajeet is a partner. They were fighting over money issues. We are conducting further investigation,” he said.

Faridabad:

A 14-year-old boy set his father on fire after being scolded on suspicion of theft in their rented home in Faridabad’s Ajay Nagar Part 2 on Tuesday, police said.

According to a complaint filed by their landlord Riyazuddin, at around 2 am, he suddenly woke up to 55-year-old Mohammad Aleem’s screams.

“When I tried to go to the terrace, where Aleem lived with his son in a rented room, I found that the door was locked. With the help of a neighbor, I reached the terrace and saw that the room was on fire, its door was locked from outside and Aleem was screaming from inside,” he said.

As soon as the door was opened, Aleem died on the spot due to severe burns while his 14-year-old son escaped by jumping into someone else’s house, Riyazuddin claimed.

According to the police, Aleem had confronted his son for stealing money from his pocket.

It is suspected that the teenager, in a fit of rage, poured some inflammable substances on his father and set him on fire, a senior police officer said, adding that the boy is in custody and being questioned.

In September last year, Aleem, a native of Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur, came to Faridabad along with his son and rented a room on the terrace of Riyazuddin’s house in Ajay Nagar Part 2.

He used to collect donations for religious places and sell mosquito nets and other items in the weekly markets. His wife died many years ago and his four married children were living separately, the police said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The vehicle, which was being driven by Vaseem Malik (24), a resident of Sangam Vihar.

The rehearsals for the annual Republic parade are in full swing. The five-day Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 is also being held in New Delhi and Greater Noida. So, to facilitate smooth traffic movement in the national capital region, the Delhi Police has issued a comprehensive traffic advisory regarding the arrangements and restrictions that will be in place for the next few days. The special arrangements have been made for January 17, 18, 20 and 21, the Delhi Police announced in a post on X. 

According to the advisory, traffic restrictions would be put in place for Kartavyapath- Rafi Marg crossing, Kartavyapath- Janpath crossing, Kartavypath- Mansingh Road crossing, and Kartavyapath- C- Hexagon from 10:15 am to 12:30 pm on the dates mentioned above. The advisory has been issued to “facilitate uninterrupted movement of Republic Day parade rehearsals on Kartavya Path,” the Delhi Police said in a statement. 

Traffic Advisory

Special traffic arrangements have been made on 17th, 18th, 20th and 21st January in order to facilitate the uninterrupted movement of Parade on Kartavyapath.

Kindly follow the advisory#DPTrafficAdvisory pic.twitter.com/y53clzh0wL

— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) January 15, 2025

Diversions 

According to traffic advisory, people going from north Delhi to south Delhi and vice versa can take Ring Road, Sarai Kale Khan, I.P. Flyover, Rajghat, Lajpat Ral Marg, Mathura Road, Bhairon Road, Ring Road, Aurobindo Marg, Safdarjung Road, Kamal Attaturk Marg, Kautilaya Marg.

Those travelling from east to southwest Delhi, Ring Road can take the Vande Matram Marg.

People coming to Vinay Marg, Shanti Path or going to New Delhi and beyond can take Sardar Patel Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent, roundabout RML, Baba Kharak Singh Marg or Park Street – Mandir Marg and proceed further to North Delhi or New Delhi, the advisory stated.

“Motorists are urged to follow traffic rules, be patient and heed Traffic Police instructions. Plan your journey in advance to avoid inconvenience,” the Delhi Police said. 

Notably, the national capital is also hosting the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 at Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi in New Delhi and the India Expo Center and Mart in Greater Noida. The event is scheduled from January 17-22. 

Republic Day: Date, time and theme 

India will celebrate its 76th Republic Day on January 26, Sunday. The majestic Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path will begin at 10 am. This year’s theme is ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’ (Golden India: Heritage and Development).

New Delhi:

Delhi recorded a slight decline in crimes including murder, robbery, rape, and molestation, last year as compared to 2023, data shared by the Delhi Police said.

According to the data, a total of 504 cases of murder were reported in the national capital – down from 506 in 2023. Incidents of robbery also witnessed a decline from 1,654 to 1,510 in 2024. There were a total of 33 incidents of riots reported in Delhi – at least 10 down from last to last year.

Cases of crimes against women also witnessed a sharp decline last year.

A total of 2,076 incidents of rape were reported in Delhi as compared to the previous year’s 2,141 cases, 2,037 cases of molestation – at least 308 down from 2023, and 362 cases of eve-teasing were reported in 2024 compared to 281 in 2023, the data said.

29 incidents of dacoity were witnessed – the same as the previous year.

However, there was a sharp rise in some incidents such as fatal accidents and burglary. While a total of 1,504 fatal accidents were reported last year – as compared to 1,432 from 2023, at least 29,011 cases of burglary were witnessed – over 400 cases more from the previous year.

Also Read | How Instagram Reels Helped Solve Delhi Man’s Murder

Several incidents of gambling were reported in Delhi last year (3,556 incidents in 2024).

Apart from these, officials said that cases related to the Excise Act saw a sharp rise last year. At least 6,443 cases were reported as compared to 5,951 in 2023. This comes as many Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, were arrested in the excise policy cases.

Delhi saw a dip in most crimes in 2024.

Over 100 criminals arrested in 2024: Delhi Police

The Delhi Police arrested a total of 114 hardened criminals in 2024, including 40 parole jumpers and wanted offenders each. The other arrested criminals included 18 interim bail jumpers, nine proclaimed offenders, four carrying a reward on their head, and three non-bailable warrant evaders, officials said.

Additionally, six criminals were on the run for over 10 years, while three had evaded arrest for eight years.

“A year of tireless effort and precision, the Crime Branch adopted a multifaceted approach, combining advanced technological tools and traditional intelligence methods. With the use of technical surveillance, CDR and IPDR analysis, and informant networks, various dedicated teams traced and captured offenders who had evaded arrest for years,” Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Devesh Chandra Srivastava, said.

New Delhi:

A man in Ghaziabad died by suicide. His wife, in Delhi following a fight with him, heard the news of her husband’s death, and killed herself, police said. The couple were parents to a one-year-old girl.

The incidents involve Vijay Pratap Chauhan, 32, and his wife Shivani, 28, who resided in the Loni Border area of Ghaziabad. According to the police, the couple had a history of marital discord.

Vijay and Shivani, who lived in Jawahar Nagar’s G Block in Ghaziabad, had a heated argument Friday evening. Following the dispute, Shivani left their home and travelled to northeast Delhi. Vijay reportedly made a call to Shivani after she left, during which he allegedly told her that she would never see him again.

Shortly after, Vijay’s aunt, Meera, visited his home and discovered his body. He had hanged himself inside the house. She immediately informed Shivani of the incident. Upon hearing the news, Shivani took her own life by hanging herself from an electric pole near the Loni roundabout in northeast Delhi, approximately 8 kilometres from their residence.

Ghaziabad Police and Delhi Police are conducting parallel investigations into the incident. Both the bodies were sent for post-mortem examination. No suicide notes were recovered at either scene. A forensic team examined both locations. Police confirmed that there were no external injuries on Shivani’s body apart from the marks consistent with hanging.