Female dons rising in Delhi-NCR badlands

For decades, organised crime in the national capital was viewed as an overwhelmingly male domain. However, over the years, females have increasingly emerged as facilitators, planners, couriers, honey-trap operatives and, in some cases, influential figures within criminal gangs operating in and around Delhi.

Police sources say several syndicates are deliberately deploying women to avoid suspicion, manage logistics, supply narcotics and lure targets. While some entered the criminal ecosystem following personal crises, others were motivated by financial gain, ambition or proximity to senior gang leaders.

In a recent operation, the police arrested sharpshooter Bobby Kabootar, an aide of Lawrence Bishnoi, who was wanted in multiple murder cases, including the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.

Arrested alongside him was Khushnuma Ansari, also known as Neha or “Madam Zeher”, who is believed to be linked to the same network. Though she ran a beauty parlour in northeast Delhi and maintained a large following on Instagram, investigators allege she was operating a drug supply cartel behind the façade. The police say she is not an isolated case and that several women are playing critical behind-the-scenes roles within the gang.

In March 2024, the police arrested Pooja Sharma from Chandigarh for allegedly working with the Bishnoi network. During interrogation, she reportedly admitted to aspiring to become a gangster and to her involvement in planning a courtroom killing. Originally from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, she was allegedly recruited through local criminals and later connected with Rohit Godara and Goldy Brar. Her assignment was to pose as a lawyer and kill gangster Bhupinder Rana inside a court complex — a plan thwarted before it could be executed.

Another case that drew attention was the stabbing of a 17-year-old boy on April 17, 2024, during which three assailants attacked the victim, while a 19-year-old woman, Zikra Khan — widely known as the “Lady Don” of Seelampur — allegedly stood by at the scene.

The arrest of Anuradha, popularly known as “Madam Minz”, further underscores the trend. Detained by the Delhi Police Special Cell along with gangster Kala Jathedi, Anuradha reportedly entered the criminal world after a failed share-trading venture left her deeply indebted. Highly educated, she is accused of serving as the chief strategist for Anandpal Singh, planning crimes and modernising his public image before his death in a police encounter. She later allegedly aligned herself with other major gangs operating across north India.

Another high-profile arrest involved Anu Dhakhar, associated with gangster Himanshu Bhau, who was apprehended near the Nepal border. She was wanted in connection with the 2024 Burger King shooting in Rajouri Garden, during which around 40 rounds were fired. The police allege she used a fake social media profile to befriend the victim and lure him to the location where the shooters carried out the killing.

“Women criminals can be colder than men. While male gangsters often seek notoriety, these women focus on outcomes,” a senior police officer said.

Their paths into crime vary widely — some rose from poverty through petty offences, while others became involved through relationships with gangsters and later assumed control after their partners were jailed or killed, the officer mentioned.

What distinguishes them, is their ability to blend invisibly into everyday life, exploiting perceptions of vulnerability before re-emerging as decisive actors in violent crimes, the cop added.