NEW DELHI: The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has arrested Khusnuma Ansari, also known as Neha, described by investigators as an accomplice of Mahfuz, alias Bobby Kabootar.
'Lady don', Khusnuma, operated a beauty parlour in northeast Delhi.
However, police claim the business was merely a front to mask the gang's illegal activities and manage their drug distribution network.
Khusnuma and Bobby have been associated for seven years.
During the arrest near the Mahipalpur flyover, police said they recovered a significant quantity of drugs, leading investigators to refer to her as “Madam Zeher”.
Ansari was allegedly managing a drug syndicate linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi- Hashim Baba gang.
Mahfuz was earlier arrested by the Special Cell.
His name had surfaced during several investigations, including the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, as well as a firing incident at the residence of actor Disha Patani.
A pattern emerging
Ansari’s arrest comes amid a series of cases in the Delhi-NCR region where women are alleged to have played central roles in gang activity — either as conspirators, facilitators or operational heads.
In 2025, a 17-year-old boy, Kunal, was stabbed to death in northeast Delhi’s Seelampur on Thursday evening, in what police believe was a revenge killing. The murder sparked protests and heightened tensions in the area.
Police have identified two teenage suspects, currently absconding, and have formed 10 teams to track them down.
A woman named Zikra was arrested for allegedly conspiring with the accused and abetting the crime.
Who is ‘Lady don’ Zikra?
Investigators say Zikra previously worked as a bouncer for jailed gangster Hashim Baba’s wife, Zoya, and is alleged to be associated with the Shoaib-Mastan gang — a local criminal outfit known to operate in the area.
She was earlier arrested for flaunting firearms on Instagram, where she boasts a following of 15,000. In many of her posts, she posed with weapons, allegedly to project gang-related bravado.
According to investigators, Zikra played a key role in instigating the murder. Police said she encouraged the two teenage suspects, who are also believed to be part of the Shoaib-Mastan gang, to carry out the attack on Kunal.
Earlier case in Noida
In 2024, police in Noida took custody of Kajal Khatri, the ‘lady don’ who was arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the murder of an Air India employee at a market in Sector 104 in January that year. She was sent to Luksar jail after being brought on transit remand.
Believed to be the girlfriend of jailed gangster Kapil Mann, Khatri was allegedly running operations of the gang on his behalf after his arrest in 2019. Kapil, according to police, had planned the murder of Suraj Mann, who was shot dead moments after he walked out of his gym and entered his car.
The TOI City Desk is an indefatigable team of journalists dedicat...
Read MoreThe TOI City Desk is an indefatigable team of journalists dedicated to bringing you the pulse of cities from across the nation, all day and all night. Our mission is to curate, report, and deliver city news that matters to readers of The Times of India. With a keen focus on urban life, governance, culture, and local issues, we provide a comprehensive view of the ever-evolving cityscapes. Our team works tirelessly to keep readers informed about the latest developments, ensuring that they are connected to the heartbeat of cities across India, right when it happens. The TOI City Desk is a trusted source for staying in touch with the local stories that shape your world.
Read Less