As the legal window for festive firecracker sales opened today, Gurugram authorities made it clear that “green” does not mean “anything goes.” A major enforcement drive in the city’s oldest commercial pockets has exposed a lingering trade in prohibited pyrotechnics.
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The Raids: Targeted operations took place in the narrow lanes of Jacobpura, Jyoti Park, and Arjun Nagar. Acting on tip-offs, plainclothes officers identified shops where banned “sutli bombs” and “series crackers” (laris) were being sold from back-alley godowns.
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The Seizure: The total haul is estimated at ₹10 lakh. “The stock recovered included classic high-pollution crackers that have been banned for years. These were being smuggled from outer Delhi and Rajasthan and stored in residential basements, posing a massive fire risk,” said a senior official from the CM’s Flying Squad.
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Modus Operandi: * Camouflage: Vendors were found placing a few boxes of legitimate green crackers at the front of their stalls while keeping the banned high-margin stock hidden in sacks behind the counter.
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Fake Branding: Many seized boxes featured fake “Green” logos but led to dead links or random YouTube videos when their QR codes were scanned.
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Legal Action: At least four shopkeepers were taken into custody during the raids. They have been booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for disobeying public orders and the Explosives Act.
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Supreme Court Guidelines: Officials reminded the public that even for legitimate green crackers, bursting is strictly limited to 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Diwali and the day before. The sale of any fireworks through e-commerce platforms remains completely prohibited in the district.
Public Safety Alert: The District Magistrate has urged residents to verify the CSIR-NEERI logo and scan the QR code on every pack before purchase. “If the QR code doesn’t work or the manufacturer isn’t on the approved list, it is an illegal product. Buying such crackers not only harms the environment but supports a criminal supply chain,” the DM stated.
