Former National Wrestler Amit Sheoran Arrested in Major Opium Smuggling Case
Arrest of Amit Sheoran
New Delhi, August 19: Amit Sheoran, a 31-year-old ex-national-level wrestler, has been apprehended after being on the run since 2023. He was declared a proclaimed offender in a significant opium smuggling case, according to police reports.
Sheoran, who earned a bronze medal at the 2013 National Cadet Wrestling Championship, was caught near the Madhuban Chowk Metro Station on Tuesday night following a well-coordinated manhunt. He hails from Rohtak district in Haryana.
The Jharkhand Police had been searching for him in connection with a case registered at the Dhurwa (Tupudana) police station in Ranchi. He allegedly sourced opium intended for distribution to wrestling training centers (akhadas) throughout Haryana and Delhi. After his arrest, he was transferred to the Jharkhand Police for further legal action.
The Delhi Police Crime Branch characterized this arrest as a significant setback for organized crime, attributing it to ongoing surveillance, strategic intelligence efforts, and carefully coordinated operations targeting criminals evading justice.
Sheoran had been avoiding capture since December 6, 2023, when a court officially labeled him a proclaimed offender.
The investigation gained momentum after the arrest of a Jharkhand-based supplier, Rajesh Nag, in April 2023, who was found with nearly half a kilogram of opium. Nag reportedly admitted that his supply was specifically aimed at wrestlers in North India and identified Sheoran as a key recipient.
During questioning, Sheoran disclosed alarming connections between the sports community and drug use. He mentioned that while training at the Mehar Singh Akhada in Rohtak and the Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi, he noticed many wrestlers consuming opium to extend their training sessions.
Despite his achievements in wrestling, Sheoran's dreams of a career with the Indian Railways were shattered by his descent into crime. The Crime Branch noted that he was drawn into drug trafficking by an associate named Ranjeet, who promised him quick financial gains.
The operation to apprehend Sheoran was initiated based on reliable human intelligence regarding his movements in the Ranibagh-Pitampura area to visit a relative. On August 18, a collaborative effort by the Delhi Police and Jharkhand Police set a trap near the Madhuban Chowk Metro Station. Around 10:00 PM, he was recognized by the investigating officer and successfully arrested.
Records indicate that Sheoran is linked to six criminal cases. Prior to his full-time involvement in drug trafficking, he worked as a bouncer in various bars and nightclubs across Delhi.
The Crime Branch reiterated that this arrest is part of a concentrated effort to enhance technical surveillance and bolster its human intelligence network to identify and neutralize active criminals involved in serious offenses.