Two chemistry professors in Rajasthan, India, were arrested for running a secret lab that made synthetic drugs. The lab was hidden in a suburban apartment in Sri Ganganagar.
Initially, reports said they made over 150 kilograms of mephedrone, but the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) clarified that only 780 grams were seized. They estimate total production was about 5 kilograms.
The professors, Bharghav, a government school chemistry teacher, and Indrijeet Bishnoi, a 35-year-old physics tutor, were reportedly inspired by the TV show Breaking Bad.
The NCB raided their rented two-bedroom apartment on July 8, 2025. They found chemicals and equipment used to produce mephedrone, a synthetic drug similar to methamphetamine.
The lab operated mostly on weekends to avoid suspicion. Authorities also found a chemistry handbook and handwritten notes with drug formulas. The operation’s value is estimated between 1.5 and 2 crore rupees (about $180,000 to $240,000 USD).
Sri Ganganagar is near the Punjab and Pakistan borders. The area has seen over 150 drug overdose deaths since 2024, mostly from opium and heroin. This arrest is the first linked to mephedrone in the district.
Both professors have no previous criminal records. They face charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The NCB is investigating if there is a larger drug distribution network.
