Delhi's Explosive Diwali Bust: Firecracker Seizure in Disguise

Nearly 700 kg of illegal firecrackers stored in a building disguised as an ice cream unit were seized in Delhi. A man was arrested as police acted on a tip-off. The stash was found in a densely populated area, posing a safety risk ahead of Diwali festivities.

In a significant pre-Diwali crackdown, nearly 700 kg of illegal firecrackers were seized from a building posing as an ice cream manufacturing unit in southwest Delhi's Bindapur area.

Police arrested 52-year-old Dilbagh Singh, who allegedly managed the stock, after a raid following a tip-off. The stash comprised 693 kg of firecrackers from 42 different brands, stored under highly unsafe conditions, posing a serious risk to the densely populated neighborhood.

Authorities revealed that Singh intended to sell the firecrackers during the festive season, which violated regulatory norms. He reportedly sourced the stock from Punjab, where sale restrictions are lenient. A case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Explosives Act has been registered, and investigations continue to trace the supply network and identify additional culprits.

(With inputs from agencies.)