New Delhi, June 2, 2025:
In a major embarrassment for the Delhi Police, one of their own Head Constables was arrested by the Special Cell for allegedly stealing around ₹51 lakh in cash along with a large quantity of jewellery from the police storage facility, known as the Maalkhana. In a separate operation, a Nigerian national was caught with a commercial quantity of cocaine in West Delhi.
Inside Job Uncovered in Special Cell
Head Constable Khurshid, who was previously posted at the Special Cell’s Maalkhana on Lodhi Road, allegedly took advantage of his access to steal the cash and valuables late Friday night. The theft came to light when Khurshid, recently transferred to East Delhi, was found to be missing along with the stolen property.
The Maalkhana in-charge noticed discrepancies during a routine check and immediately alerted senior officers. CCTV footage from the area helped identify Khurshid as the suspect. The Special Cell moved quickly and managed to arrest him the very next day, on Saturday.
Sources within the Delhi Police stated that the incident has raised serious concerns about internal security and accountability within the force. An inquiry is likely to be initiated into the Maalkhana’s auditing and monitoring procedures.
Public Reacts: Time for Regular Audits?
The incident has sparked public debate about the management of seized items in police custody. A recent poll posed the question: Should police departments conduct regular audits of their Maalkhanas? An overwhelming majority of respondents voted “Yes, definitely,” highlighting growing public concern over internal corruption.
Separate Operation Nets Nigerian with Cocaine
In a completely unrelated case, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Delhi Police Crime Branch carried out a successful drug bust in the Tilak Nagar area of West Delhi on Sunday.
Based on specific intelligence inputs, the ANTF team arrested David Leanne, a Nigerian national, during a targeted operation in Old Mahabir Nagar. Leanne was found carrying a bag containing a suspicious yellow-colored powder.
On-site testing by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) confirmed that the substance was cocaine. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch – ANTF), Apoorva Gupta, the quantity seized falls under the ‘commercial quantity’ category as per the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Cocaine Seizure: Investigation Underway
The arrest was the result of days of surveillance and intelligence work by the ANTF, which had been tracking individuals suspected of supplying narcotics across the Delhi-NCR region.
“The accused was caught red-handed, and we are now investigating the broader network he was operating in,” said DCP Apoorva Gupta.
A case has been officially registered at the Crime Branch Police Station. Investigators are now working to trace other individuals connected to this drug distribution network and determine how the drugs were being smuggled into the region.
Police Credibility Under Scrutiny
While the successful drug seizure has been praised, the arrest of Head Constable Khurshid has put the police force under a cloud. Citizens and experts have called for more transparency and stricter control over sensitive storage units like Maalkhanas.
Security analysts suggest that technology such as biometric access, digital logging, and real-time inventory systems should be introduced to prevent such insider thefts.
