Delhi: 470 kg of firecrackers seized from godown in Sadar Bazar, seller held

The suspect took a small godown on a monthly rent of ₹12,000 to store firecrackers, which he procured from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and was planning to sell them at a higher price ahead of Diwali

Police on Tuesday searched a godown in north Delhi’s Sadar Bazar and recovered more than 470kg of firecrackers that were stored there illegally. The police have arrested the person who stored the firecrackers and said the suspect was planning to sell them for a huge profit ahead of Diwali.

The seller has been arrested and a case has been registered under IPC sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and sections of Explosive Act at the Sadar Bazar police station. (Picture for representation only)

In September, the Delhi government had announced a complete ban on the storage, sale and use of firecrackers in the national capital, in an effort to control the rising pollution levels seen around Diwali every year. The ban on crackers will remain in effect till December 31, 2021.

Sagar Singh Kalsi, deputy police commissioner, north, said on Tuesday, they got information regarding the illegal storage and sale of firecrackers in Sadar Bazar, following which a team was formed and sent to the godown.

“The police team conducted a search of the godown where the trader, identified as Mohammad Rihan (21), was a huge cache of illegal firecrackers. He was also present in the godown at the time of the search,” said DCP Kalsi. Delhi Police and teams of the Delhi Pollution Control Board will closely monitor markets to ensure strict compliance of the cracker ban, officials had said.