Benami properties from Delhi to UP, illegal assets worth over Rs 15 cr: Police on ops run by ‘Drug Queen’ in Northeast Delhi

MCOCA allows for stricter penalties against accused, including extended detention periods, up to 180 days. The police are also on the lookout for ‘Danny’, who they say is her brother who supplied her drugs from Bulandshahr, her hometown.

Kusum, who was labelled as the ‘Drug Queen’ for running one of the biggest illegal drugs operations in Northeast Delhi since 2001, allegedly confined the operations of her drug supply chain to the family, according to the police.

“Her relatives in her village are being probed and many of them are suspected to be involved in the various aspects of the illegal trade,” a police officer said.

The officer also mentioned that benami properties allegedly attached to Kusum and being handled by her relatives in Uttar Pradesh, are being looked into and the total value of her illegal assets could be around Rs 15- 20 crore. Eight properties owned by Kusum, valued at a total of Rs 4 crore, were seized on July 20.

The police have also arrested Ashish Reddu, allegedly one of Kusum’s prominent clients. “Reddu came in contact with Kusum through Amit. He used to come frequently to the alley for supply of smack,” a police officer said.

In the 583-page chargesheet, filed in May after Amit was arrested, police underlined, “Subsequently, during the course of the financial investigation, substantial deposits were identified in the bank accounts of Anuradha alias Chiku and Deepa, further corroborating their involvement and connivance in the drug syndicate. Amit got involved in the business about five years ago, and brought in new clients.” A court in Rohini has taken cognizance of the chargesheet.

The chargesheet also mentions the presence of iron gates on both ends of the alley where Kusum’s building was located with CCTVS monitoring every move of anyone who entered the alley.

“Anyone who came inside the alley—dealer, supplier and lawyer—was thoroughly checked at the iron gates, with minor boys keeping an eye on the whole lane. The individual would then be escorted to the building. He would then meet Kusum to talk business, mostly for the sale of narcotics. Once they came out, they would be asked to exit from the other end of the alley,” a police officer said.

The details related to bank accounts of Kusum’s daughters—with alleged transactions worth Rs 2 crore— are still being analysed. Officers said notices under Section 94 of BNSS have already been served to the banks concerned to obtain the details of the beneficiary accounts, a police officer said.

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