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Shimla, February 19 – In a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking in Himachal Pradesh, Shimla Police have arrested a government official and a woman, exposing their links to an interstate chitta (methamphetamine) smuggling network. The arrests on Tuesday have had shocking revelations over the finances of the drug syndicate, revealing the links of several influential persons in the drug trade of the state.
The accused have been identified as Mukul Chauhan, a Tehsil Welfare Officer in Shimla, and Ankita Negi, a woman resident of Malyana in Shimla. It came after an in-depth investigation found the pair had been handling bank transactions for senior members of the interstate drug syndicate. The police registered a case and produced both the accused in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), which sent them to police remand till February 20 in the case for further investigation.
Alarming Disclosure of Financial Transactions
In this case, the huge breakthrough came when the police checked the bank accounts of the arrested suspects. The investigation unraveled a complex web of financial transactions tied to a smuggling network, indicating that both Chauhan and Negi played pivotal roles in facilitating cross-border drug money movement, the police said. However, Police have not been clear as of yet on whether the accused were direct drug consumers, or simply operators of the smuggling ring.
One of the most disturbing aspects of these revelations is that they involve a government official being part of a criminal organisation. The report has raised alarm bells in the state administration. The government of states started taking initiative after the net of Mukul Chauhan was laid. As per the rules and regulations for a public servant, Chauhan will face strict disciplinary action, an official of the department concerned said.
The Rise of the Interstate Drug Syndicate
The dramatic arrest highlights the scale of the drug smuggling racket and the widespread impact on Himachal Pradesh. Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi said police were widening their investigation and more arrests were expected in coming days. The police are trying desperately to get to the bottom of the whole operation, and how long the accused has been working with the drug cartel. Around 400 people are suspected to be connected to this drug syndicate, whose smuggling routes have spread from other states into Himachal Pradesh, the authorities say.
The investigation gained significant traction with the arrest of Kolkata-based Sandeep Shah, who is suspected to be the main mastermind of the gang. The arrest of Shah has however enabled the police to peel off layers of the syndicate and led them to the discovery of Chauhan and Negi’s involvement. The Shimla Police so far have questioned several suspects in the case and doing the detective work to identify other related members of the drug network.
A Long-Standing Drug Problem in Himachal Pradesh
The latest nip is yet another step forward in Shimla Police’s relentless action against chitta smuggling in Himachal Pradesh. In recent years, drug abuse and trafficking have become major social issues that the state has long been struggling with, with drug cartels using its proximity to most other states to smuggle in illegal drugs. Amidst the crackdown, the Himachal Pradesh Police recovered more than 11 kilograms of chitta from various parts of the state in 2024 alone, creating hurdles to several major drug trafficking gangs operating in the state, including gangs led by Shahi Mahatma, Ranjan, Radhe and Sandeep Shah.
However, despite these efforts, the illegal drug trade continues to be a problem. Shimla Police seized 1.671 kilograms of chitta in the first quarter of 2025, showing that the problem isn’t going away. The authorities are committed to stepping up their fight against the drug trade, and they expect that additional arrests of prominent people connected to the drug syndicate could be just around the corner.
Continuing Campaign Against Drug Trafficking
Chauhan and Negi’s arrest highlights the crucial importance of remaining vigilant in the battle against drugs in Himachal Pradesh. Over the past month, police have stepped up efforts against chitta smuggling and have especially targeted networks that supply the drug across the state. The information is also critical in dismantling these networks with the police, local community, and government working together.
Shimla police has promised that their efforts against drug smuggling will continue so that a drug-free environment can be created for the people of Himachal Pradesh. “The authorities have made an anticipatory plan and they are hopeful that with the falling of more and more arms, the network of the syndicates will be thoroughly de-pressurized.”
The police have called for the citizens to come forward and report their activities leading to drugs abuse and trafficking in the state as the investigation continues. The police, with the cooperation of the public, is committed to eradicate this rising menace and make Himachal Pradesh a drug-free state.
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