New Delhi, Oct 29 — The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a wanted mother-son duo linked to an organised drug syndicate and facing cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, officials said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Neelam Rana, 47, wife of Rajesh Rana alias Bunty, and her son Rahul Rana, 27. Both were wanted in FIR No. 74/2026, registered under Sections 3 and 4 of MCOCA at Tilak Nagar police station, and FIR No. 968/2021, registered under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act at Khyala police station.
Proceedings under Section 84 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had been initiated against both accused by the concerned courts. Rajesh Rana, who is the head of the syndicate, has already been charge-sheeted in the MCOCA case and is currently in judicial custody.
According to police, a team from the Western Range-II unit of the Crime Branch was constituted on the directions of DCP Harsh Indora following specific intelligence received by Head Constable Pramod Kumar. The team was led by Inspector Satish Malik under the supervision of ACP Raj Pal Dabas.
The team included Sub-Inspectors Anuj Chhikara and Pradeep Dahiya, Assistant Sub-Inspector Shreeom, and Head Constables Ravinder Singh, Pramod Kumar and Azad.
SI Anuj Chhikara and HC Ravinder Singh conducted technical surveillance to trace the accused. Following sustained efforts, the team located them at their residential premises in Bindapur and Mahavir Enclave, Delhi, on October 27.
After the court proceedings and completing the necessary legal formalities, both were arrested under Section 35(1)(c) of the BNSS.
Police said Neelam Rana had been involved in 13 criminal cases since 1995, including cases under the Excise Act and the NDPS Act. Non-bailable warrants were also pending against her in two NDPS cases. Rahul Rana is also an accused in an NDPS case and a separate case registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to investigators, Neelam Rana began selling liquor illegally in the Khyala and Tilak Nagar areas with her husband and his family. She later allegedly became involved in procuring and selling heroin, also known as smack. Her son Rahul Rana allegedly joined the illegal drug trade.
The police further alleged that the family operated an organised syndicate led by Rajesh Rana, generating substantial proceeds from drug trafficking. Following his arrest, Neelam and Rahul went into hiding and frequently changed locations to evade arrest.