Shimla police seize illegal assets worth Rs 2.09 crore linked to Punjab-based drug network

Continuing its crackdown on interstate drug trafficking networks, Shimla police have seized illegal properties worth Rs 2.09 crore, making it one of the highest property seizures in Himachal Pradesh this year.

Addressing a press conference in Shimla, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shimla (City) Mehar Panwar said that on June 20 the district police had raided a homestay in Kanlog area on the basis of a tip-off and arrested a man identified as Gopal Kumar with 16 g chitta (heroin).

“A case under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 was registered and investigation was initiated. During the investigation, police established backward linkage, leading to the arrest of an interstate drug supplier named Gurvchan alias Guru, a resident of Bathinda, Punjab, from Mohali with approx. 162 g chitta” she said.

“Further investigations revealed that both accused operated a drug network for Deepak Kumar, alias Karni Brar, a Bathinda resident, who was identified as the mastermind of the network. A team was sent to Bathinda from where he was arrested. Following a well-planned joint operation by Shimla Police in Bathinda, Deepak Kumar, alias Karni Brar, was arrested from Bathinda. Deepak Kumar is a criminal with previous criminal records. Investigations revealed that transactions worth more than Rs 50 lakh were made from the account of Deepak in the last 6 months alone,” said the ASP.

“During the financial investigation, police found illegal assets acquired by Deepak and his associates through drug trafficking, with an estimated value of approx Rs 2.09 crore. These include a Fortuner, Endeavour, Tata Safari, Verna, Swift and Volkswagen Jetta, two commercial properties including S-4 Sports Club and S-4 Car Wash Centre, one residential house and cash at bank,” said Panwar.

“So far in 2026, the district police have seized illegal assets worth Rs 6.38 crore of drug traffickers. In contrast, the number of such actions was zero in 2025 and 2024, as financial investigations of drug traffickers were not conducted,” she said.