New Delhi: Zoya Khan, the wife of jailed gangster Hashim Baba and a key player in his criminal empire, has been arrested with 270 grams of heroin worth approximately Rs 1 crore in the international market. The 33-year-old, often referred to as Delhi’s ‘Lady Don,’ had long evaded law enforcement, but her arrest marks a major breakthrough for the Special Cell of the Delhi Police.

For years, Zoya operated from the shadows, allegedly overseeing extortion, drug trafficking, and gang operations while maintaining a lavish lifestyle. Following Baba’s imprisonment, she took over his network, mirroring the role once played by Haseena Parkar, the sister of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

According to police sources, she maintained direct communication with Baba, who trained her in coded language during visits to Tihar Jail. She reportedly managed his gang’s finances, relayed orders to his associates, and even provided shelter to shooters linked to high-profile murder cases.

Arrest and investigation

Zoya was taken into custody in North East Delhi’s Welcome area after a tip-off led to a police operation. She was allegedly in possession of a significant quantity of heroin, believed to have been sourced from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, for distribution.

Authorities suspect her involvement in the Nadir Shah murder case, where a gym owner was gunned down in South Delhi’s Greater Kailash-1 in September 2024. She had previously been interrogated regarding the incident at the Special Cell’s Lodhi Colony office.

Crime family and gang wars

Zoya’s criminal ties run deep. Her mother was arrested in 2024 for her alleged role in a sex trafficking ring, while her father was linked to drug syndicates. Operating mainly from Usmanpur, she was constantly surrounded by armed henchmen loyal to Baba’s gang.

The region has long been a battleground for rival groups, including the Hashim Baba gang, the Chhenu gang, and the Nasir Pehelwan gang. While originally involved in drug trafficking, these gangs have been embroiled in violent turf wars since 2007.

Investigators believe Zoya’s husband, Hashim Baba, developed ties with notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi while imprisoned. Baba’s name surfaced in the Nadir Shah murder probe, and he allegedly confessed to coordinating the hit with Bishnoi—who is also linked to the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala and the shooting outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s Mumbai residence.