Bhiwadi, Rajasthan: Police and security forces uncovered a suspected illegal psychotropic drug manufacturing factory in Bhiwadi that was operated by three accused, including an engineer from Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The unit allegedly produced alprazolam and other psychotropic substances without a license or legal approval. Police reports indicated that the factory had been operating for several months, although the exact duration requires confirmation. The action marked a major development in efforts to clamp down on the illegal drug trade in the region.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) led the raid in coordination with the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Bhiwadi Police. Officers recovered approximately 22 kilograms of psychotropic substances and arrested three men at the site. The authorities began investigating the alleged supply chain and the people connected to the operation.
Information from law enforcement sources says the illegal unit was disguised as a legitimate industrial business in the RIICO industrial area of Bhiwadi. Officers traced suspicious activity over weeks and monitored movements before choosing to act. On Sunday, December 28, 2025, the ATS and SOG teams moved in and searched the premises.
Inside the factory, investigators found machines, raw chemicals and powdered substances used to manufacture sleeping pills and other psychotropic drugs. The setup was sophisticated and raised suspicions that the operation was supplying far beyond the local market.
During the raid, agencies seized around 22 kilograms of psychotropic material, including approximately 5 kilograms of alprazolam and 17 kilograms of a mixture of prazepam and temazepam, according to media reports. Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders. It is regulated under India's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The Week, citing PTI reporting, put the estimated value of the seized substances at approximately ₹30 lakh. Other reports have cited substantially different figures, which require independent verification.
Jaipur SOG Additional Director General Vishal Bansal said the accused had strong technical knowledge in pharmaceutical manufacturing and were not amateurs. He explained that they had carefully planned a five step process to produce alprazolam, starting with sourcing raw materials and moving through controlled mixing, precise temperature regulation, and chemical processing.
Bansal pointed out that making alprazolam is not simple. It is a complicated process that demands accuracy, specialized equipment, and close control of temperature at every stage.
The seized substances were packed in unlabeled bags and weighed carefully by officials on the spot. The materials were sent for forensic testing to establish their exact composition and support the investigation. A case was registered at the Bhiwadi police station under relevant sections of the NDPS Act.
Police arrested three men at the scene of the factory during the raid. Law enforcement identified the main suspects as:
Anshul Shastri, an engineer from Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Akhilesh Parasnath Maurya, also involved in running the operation
Krishnakumar Shrei Yadav, a resident of Tapukara, Rajasthan
Investigators are looking into how the two engineers from Uttar Pradesh became involved in the illegal business and whether they had contacts or buyers outside Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Reports identified Shastri as a chemical engineer and described his alleged role in procuring raw materials. The precise roles of the accused remain subject to the investigation.
Police and intelligence teams are now analyzing mobile records, financial transactions and supply routes connected to the suspects to identify additional accomplices. Authorities are also trying to determine where the drugs were likely to be distributed and sold in the illicit market. Officials believe that the operation may form part of a larger organized network that spans multiple states.
Ahmedabad Mirror reported that Shastri allegedly operated a firm called Ansh Trading, which procured and supplied raw materials. Police also alleged that the drugs were supplied to a person identified as Sunny Yadav. These allegations had not been established in court.
The Times of India reported that the factory was sealed following the raid and that investigators were examining the distribution network and possible associates.
The ATS and SOG continue to interrogate the arrested men and gather evidence that may lead to further arrests. As of the last verified reports cited here, no subsequent chargesheet, court order, conviction or additional arrest could be independently confirmed.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)
