Delhi Police have arrested three people and seized around 683 kg of banned firecrackers worth approximately ₹35 lakh from the Budh Vihar area, officials said on Thursday.
The seizure was made by the Special Staff team of the Rohini district police following information about the illegal storage and transportation of prohibited firecrackers ahead of Diwali.
According to police, the three arrested men have been identified as Chand, 49, Ram Kumar, 47, and Ravi, 35. All three are residents of Rohini in northwest Delhi. Chand allegedly works as a contractor supplying building construction materials, while Ram Kumar and Ravi are employed by him.
Police said the suspects were allegedly caught while loading the banned firecrackers from a godown into a Hyundai Santro car and onto a scooter. The vehicle and two-wheeler were also seized during the operation.
Rohini Deputy Commissioner of Police Shashank Jaiswal said the Special Staff team, led by Sandeep Godara, conducted the raid after receiving credible information about the illegal consignment.
During questioning, the accused allegedly told investigators that the firecrackers had been procured from a factory in Rohtak, Haryana. Police have issued a notice to the factory owner seeking an explanation about how the prohibited firecrackers were supplied to Delhi. The owner has also been asked to join the investigation.
Investigators are now examining the supply chain to determine how the firecrackers reached Delhi and whether other people or businesses were involved in their transportation and storage.
According to police, Chand allegedly told investigators that he had arranged the firecrackers around one-and-a-half months before Diwali. He allegedly planned to sell them closer to the festival at two or three times their original price, aiming to make a larger profit.
The seizure comes ahead of the Diwali season, when authorities in Delhi traditionally intensify enforcement against prohibited firecrackers due to concerns over air pollution and public safety.
Police have registered a case at the Budh Vihar police station. The FIR includes charges under Sections 223, 228 and 3 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 9(B) of the Explosives Act.
The investigation is continuing, with police focusing on the source of the firecrackers, their intended distribution network and the role of other possible persons involved in the alleged illegal trade.
Authorities have also sought an explanation from the Haryana-based factory from which the consignment was allegedly obtained. Further action will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.
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