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This is an archive article published on November 13, 2024

How 46-year-old man created ‘nursery’ to grow cannabis in his rented Noida flat, sold it on dark web

A team of a dozen policemen were immediately dispatched to raid his rented accommodation.

Cannabis, noida, indian expressPolice raided the flat at Parsvnath Panorama Society after they received inputs regarding the illegal cultivation of cannabis plants inside one of the apartments. (Express Photo)

When policemen raided a flat on the 10th floor of an apartment in Greater Noida Tuesday, they said they were taken aback at the indoor nursery they found. Instead of the garden variety of flowers, they saw cannabis plants in full bloom and the paraphernalia required to cultivate them.

“It was a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie,” Inspector Anuj Kumar recalled. “We thought there would be few (cannabis) plants in a flower pot. What we saw were a full spectrum light, a machine regulating temperature, and cannabis plants numbered as per their varieties.”

Police raided the flat at Parsvnath Panorama Society after they received inputs regarding the illegal cultivation of cannabis plants inside one of the apartments. Police said a 46-year-old man, Rahul Choudhary, who was living alone in the flat, was arrested for “illegally cultivating cannabis and selling them via the dark web”.

DCP (Greater Noida) Saad Miya Khan said they received a tip-off that Choudhary was going to hand over a consignment to a customer. “We had no idea he was cultivating cannabis inside his rented home,” he said.

Earlier in the day, police laid a trap at a roundabout near Kachnar Estate in Greater Noida. “Around 10.30 am, Choudhary appeared and as soon as he handed over a packet to a customer, we arrested him,” he said.

Cannabis A Greater Noida resident was arrested for illegal cultivation of cannabis. (Express Photo)

“During questioning, we asked him how he procured the cannabis. This is when he told us he grew it himself, inside his flat.”

A team of a dozen policemen were immediately dispatched to raid his rented accommodation. “When we opened the door, we were taken aback at the elaborate setup. There were around 80 cannabis plants worth Rs 50 lakh to 60 lakh, ganja, OG (a type of weed), various chemicals and fertilisers, and seeds and equipment used in cultivation,” said a police officer.

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“The cannabis plants were numbered as per their kind. He was using artificial light and had fixed his air conditioner at the required room temperature.”

DCP Khan said Choudhary has a post-graduate degree in English. “He used to run an eatery in Greater Noida which shut down during the Covid pandemic. This is when he started to explore the dark web, watch movies and read books on cannabis cultivation,” he said.

Hailing from UP’s Meerut, Choudhary had been living away from his wife and two children. He revealed to police that he had started cannabis cultivation four months ago and this was his first harvest. “He (Choudhary) told us the seeds were ordered online through a foreign website, Seedsman. He made payment through PayPal,” DCP Khan said.

“The cost to grow the (cannabis) plant is Rs 5,000-Rs 6,000. He would sell it at Rs 50,000-Rs 60,000 online,” DCP Khan said.

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“He told us he would arrange customers through the dark web… he would meet them in different chat rooms,” a police officer added.

During the raid, police said, they recovered 2.070 grams of illegal cannabis and 163.4 grams of OG. Choudhary has been booked under Section 20 of the NDPS Act.

Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations. Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities: 1. Environment & Public Safety "Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans. "Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people. "At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital. "Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents. 2. Crime & Legal Developments "'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused. "After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement. "Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida. 3. Human Interest & Features "'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter. "How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city. Signature Style Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More

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