More assets of kingpin’s father worth Rs5cr forfeited

Varanasi: In a major crackdown, the Sonbhadra police on Saturday seized seven more properties, four vehicles, and froze a bank account linked to Bhola Prasad Jaiswal, father of codeine syrup scam kingpin Shubham Jaiswal.The Sonbhadra police had also forfeited Rs 28.5 crore immovable and movable properties of Bhola in Varanasi on Jan 23.
The Varanasi police had also attached his properties worth Rs 30.52 crore. Many properties in the actions of Sonbhadra and Varanasi police are common.Sonbhadra SP Abhishek Verma said that under the ongoing drive to prevent the trafficking of drugs and narcotics and break the economic empire of criminals and smugglers, they initially forfeited properties worth Rs 28.5 crore belonging to Bhola in Varanasi on Jan 23. After this, further action was taken to freeze other properties owned by him and his gang members following their detection.A team of Sonbhadra police reached Varanasi to seize Bhola's assets under the NDPS Act, following court orders. Under this action, a total of seven immovable properties worth Rs 4.5 crore and four vehicles worth Rs 51 lakh were forfeited. Freezing of the debit facility in a bank account with a balance of Rs 70.9 lakh was also ensured.The teams reached the plots of Bhola and his family members in Madauli and Bharlai in Tehsil Sadar and Jagdishpur (Tehsil Pindra). The plot in Madauli was in the name of Bhola's wife Sharda, while the plot in Bharlai was in his name. Five plots in Jagdishpur were co-owned by Bhola and gang member Manoj Yadav.Apart from a Fortuner Sigma Legender and a Hyundai i20 Asta, Bhola's scooter and 1 more two-wheeler registered in the name of another gang member Vaishali Puruswani were also seized.Shubham and his father's codeine syrup smuggling racket was busted after the Sonbhadra police intercepted two trucks carrying the contraband on Oct 18, 2025. Investigation revealed a nexus between Shubham, his father, and criminals in western UP, as well as white-collar individuals in eastern UP. Bhola was arrested at Kolkata airport on Nov 30, 2025, and authorities have seized codeine syrup stocks and attached properties worth Rs 28.5 crore linked to him. However, Shubham remains at large, reportedly hiding in Dubai, and the police have initiated steps to issue a red corner notice against him.