Madam Zeher: The Beauty Parlour ‘Lady Don’

New Delhi, February 20, 2026: The Delhi Police Special Cell has achieved a major breakthrough in dismantling the urban operations of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi-Hashim Baba gang. The arrest of Khushnuma Ansari, popularly known in the underworld as “Madam Zeher,” has exposed a sophisticated drug and arms distribution network operating under the guise of a legitimate business.

Here is how the “Lady Don” managed her illicit empire from a beauty parlour in Northeast Delhi.

The Double Life: Daytime Stylist, Nighttime Strategist

To her neighbors and clients in Northeast Delhi’s Seelampur area, Khushnuma Ansari (alias Neha) was a professional makeup artist and the owner of a local beauty parlour. However, police investigations reveal that the salon was merely a high-visibility front.

• The Front: The parlour provided the perfect cover for constant foot traffic, allowing associates to come and go without raising suspicion.
• The Network: Behind the mirrors and salon chairs, Ansari allegedly managed a complex logistics chain for the Bishnoi-Hashim Baba syndicate, specializing in the distribution of high-grade narcotics and illegal firearms.
• The Moniker: She earned the name “Madam Zeher” (Madam Poison) due to her alleged control over the “poisonous” drug trade and her cold, calculated approach to gang operations.

The Connection: Love and Crime

Ansari’s rise in the criminal hierarchy is closely linked to her long-term relationship with Mahfuz, alias Bobby Kabootar.

• Bobby Kabootar is a known sharpshooter and key arms supplier for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
• Investigators state the duo had been associated for over seven years. While Kabootar handled the “muscle” and high-profile hits—including alleged links to the Sidhu Moosewala murder and a firing incident at actor Disha Patani’s residence—Ansari handled the financial and logistical backbone of the operation.

The Arrest: A High-Stakes Takedown

The Special Cell acted on specific intelligence regarding a major drug consignment.

1. The Trap: A team intercepted Ansari near the Mahipalpur flyover in South Delhi.
2. The Recovery: Police seized a significant quantity of contraband from her possession, confirming her role as a primary distributor for the gang’s narcotics wing.
3. The Accomplices: Her arrest led to the apprehension of other associates, including Mahfooz and two others, further crippling the gang’s local supply chain.

A Rising Trend of “Lady Dons”

The arrest of Madam Zeher highlights a concerning shift in Delhi’s underworld, where gangs are increasingly employing women in operational roles to evade traditional profiling by law enforcement.

What’s Next for the Investigation?

Authorities are now scanning Ansari’s digital footprint and financial records to trace the “money trail” of the drug proceeds. Police believe her interrogation will provide crucial leads into the whereabouts of other absconding members of the Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate and their future targets in the national capital.