Former national-level wrestler arrested after three-year manhunt in alleged opium smuggling case

A former national-level wrestler who had allegedly turned to drug trafficking has been arrested in Delhi after remaining on the run for nearly three years in connection with an opium smuggling case registered in Jharkhand, police said. The accused, identified as 31-year-old Amit Sheoran, was apprehended near Madhuban Chowk Metro Station in northwest Delhi on Tuesday night following a coordinated operation by the Delhi Police Crime Branch and Jharkhand Police.

Sheoran, a resident of Haryana's Rohtak district, had been declared a proclaimed offender in December 2023. He was wanted in a case registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Dhurwa (Tupudana) police station in Ranchi. Police allege that Sheoran procured opium from Jharkhand and supplied it to wrestlers and wrestling training centres in Haryana and Delhi.

National-level wrestler before alleged turn to drugs

Sheoran had competed at the national level in wrestling and won a bronze medal at the National Cadet Wrestling Championship in 2013. According to investigators, his involvement in the alleged narcotics network came to light during an earlier probe into an opium supplier identified as Rajesh Nag.

Police said Nag was allegedly involved in cultivating opium and supplying the narcotic substance to customers in northern India, including people associated with wrestling. During questioning, Nag allegedly named Sheoran and another person, Ranjit, as among those receiving drugs from him. Investigators subsequently began examining Sheoran's alleged role in the supply chain.

Police allege opium supplied to akhadas

According to police, Sheoran came into contact with Ranjit, who allegedly introduced him to opium suppliers in Ranchi.

Investigators claim Sheoran later travelled to Ranchi, purchased opium and transported it for distribution in Haryana and Delhi.

Police allege that wrestling akhadas and people associated with them were among the intended recipients.

Sheoran and Ranjit had previously been arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in an NDPS case. A separate case was subsequently registered against Sheoran in Jharkhand in connection with the alleged narcotics network.

He later remained unavailable to investigators, following which a court declared him a proclaimed offender on December 6, 2023.

Movement traced to Delhi

Police said efforts to locate Sheoran continued after he was declared a proclaimed offender.

The Crime Branch eventually received information indicating that he had been moving around the Rani Bagh-Pitampura area of northwest Delhi.

Investigators developed further intelligence about his movements and learnt that he was expected to visit a relative near Madhuban Chowk Metro Station on Tuesday.

A team was deployed in the area and a trap was laid. Jharkhand Police personnel investigating the NDPS case also joined the operation.

Sheoran was subsequently identified and apprehended near the metro station.

Following his arrest, he was handed over to Jharkhand Police for further proceedings in the case.

Accused linked to six criminal cases

Police said Sheoran has been linked to six criminal cases involving a range of alleged offences.

Apart from cases under the NDPS Act, his criminal record allegedly includes cases involving murder, attempt to murder and cheating.

Investigators will now seek to establish the extent of his alleged involvement in the narcotics supply network, including where the opium was sourced, the quantities transported and the people to whom it was supplied.

Police are also expected to examine whether other individuals associated with the alleged trafficking operation remain active.

The arrest ends a prolonged search for Sheoran, who had remained wanted since 2023 despite efforts by law enforcement agencies in multiple states to trace him.