ED, NIA Launch Late-Night Raids on Key Arms Supplier in Auraiya
Joint Enforcement Directorate and NIA operation targets prominent local arms and jewellery business amid renewed probe into past arms trafficking incidents
UP, Dec 04 : A joint team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out late-night raids on multiple properties connected to a well known arms supplier and jewellery family in Auraiya, continuing the investigation into Thursday morning.
The operation began around 1:30 am, with over 20 police vehicles and eight official cars deployed. Teams conducted searches across Nizhai Mohalla, near the district hospital on Nyara Petrol Pump Road, four residential properties, and establishments in the Sarafa market, including a gun house and jewellery shops.
Sources indicated that the raids are linked to a case from six months ago when over 3,000 cartridges were seized in Chhattisgarh, allegedly connected to Auraiya resident Lala Sharma. Investigators reportedly revisited leads from the infamous 1995 Purulia arms drop case, in which Mahesh Verma, father of the prominent Verma brothers, was under suspicion before his death by cyanide consumption during questioning.
The Verma family, involved in both jewellery and arms trade, includes Kamal Verma, Ravikant “Lale” Verma a district level Vyapar Mandal leader—and Ajaykant Shashi Verma. The family’s business, initially a small jewellery shop and gun house in Sarafa market, expanded into transport operations across the Auraiya–Kannauj–Etawah route, gaining influence across multiple states.
The Purulia arms drop case involved hundreds of AK-47 rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition, allegedly intended for an armed uprising by Anand Marg followers. Mahesh Verma had been investigated for suspected arms trafficking in connection with the incident.
During the ongoing raids, ED and NIA teams were still collecting documents and evidence, with district police providing security. Officials confirmed that no major recoveries had been made yet, and the businessmen were not present at the time. Their children were questioned for information.
SP Abhishek Verma stated that the investigation remains under the purview of external agencies and is being conducted confidentially.
