Zoya Khan, dubbed the "Lady Don of Delhi," has emerged as one of India’s most notorious female criminals, commanding attention with her audacious lifestyle and criminal exploits. Arrested on February 19, 2025, in a dramatic drug bust with 225–270 grams of heroin valued at approximately ₹1 crore, Zoya’s story intertwines glamour, crime, and controversy. As the third wife of jailed gangster Hashim Baba, she took the reins of his criminal empire, orchestrating drug trafficking and extortion while evading law enforcement for years. This detailed biography explores Zoya Khan’s early life, her marriages, her rise in Delhi’s underworld, and the events culminating in her arrest, offering a comprehensive look at the woman who ruled with an iron fist and a lavish facade.
Early Life: A Family Tied to Crime
Zoya Khan was born in 1992 (exact date unavailable) in North East Delhi, a region long associated with criminal activity. Growing up in the gritty neighborhoods of Usmanpur and Welcome, Zoya’s early life was shaped by a family already entangled in the underworld. Her mother faced arrest in 2024 for alleged involvement in a sex trafficking ring, later securing bail, while her father was linked to drug supply networks, though specifics remain murky. This familial backdrop of crime likely influenced Zoya’s eventual descent into illegal activities, setting the stage for her transformation into the "Lady Don."
Details about her education and childhood are scarce, as Zoya maintained a low profile before her criminal career took off. However, her proximity to Delhi’s gang culture, particularly in North East Delhi—a hub for groups like the Chhenu gang, Nasir Pehelwan gang, and Hashim Baba’s syndicate—exposed her to a world of violence and illicit trade from a young age.
Zoya Khan’s Marriages: From Ordinary Life to Gangster’s Wife
Zoya Khan’s personal life, particularly her marriages, played a pivotal role in her journey to becoming a criminal mastermind. She has been married twice, with each union marking a significant shift in her trajectory.
First Marriage: A Brief Union
Zoya’s first marriage occurred in her early twenties to an unnamed man from North East Delhi. Little is known about this relationship, but it ended in separation by 2014 after a brief stint. Reports suggest the marriage dissolved amicably, with no children, leaving Zoya free to pursue a new path. This early union offered no hint of the criminal life she would later embrace, portraying her as an ordinary woman before her underworld ascent.
Second Marriage: Hashim Baba and the Criminal Leap
Zoya’s life took a dramatic turn when she met Hashim Baba, a notorious gangster with a rap sheet spanning murder, extortion, and arms smuggling. The two were neighbors in North East Delhi, and their relationship blossomed into a romance by 2016. In 2017, Zoya and Hashim tied the knot in a love marriage, marking her entry into Delhi’s criminal elite. At 25, she became his third wife, stepping into a world far removed from her previous existence.
Hashim Baba, whose real name is Ashim, had already established a fearsome reputation in Delhi’s underworld. With over 16 criminal cases against him, including high-profile murders, he ruled North East Delhi’s gang scene. Zoya’s marriage to him thrust her into the heart of his operations, and when he was arrested in 2019 by Delhi Police’s Special Cell, she seized the opportunity to lead his empire. This union not only defined her criminal career but also her public persona as the glamorous yet ruthless "Lady Don."
Rise to Power: Becoming the Lady Don of Delhi
Zoya Khan’s ascent to the title of "Lady Don" began after Hashim Baba’s incarceration in 2019. With her husband behind bars in Tihar Jail, she took over the Hashim Baba gang’s operations, displaying a cunning ability to manage drug trafficking, extortion rackets, and gang finances. Her role mirrored that of Haseena Parkar, sister of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who similarly ran her brother’s empire in his absence.
Managing the Criminal Empire
Zoya operated from multiple locations in North East Delhi, primarily Usmanpur, surrounded by armed henchmen loyal to Hashim. She oversaw the gang’s lucrative drug trade, sourcing heroin from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, for distribution across Delhi. Her husband, despite being jailed, guided her through coded conversations during her frequent prison visits, teaching her to evade detection and manage operations seamlessly. Zoya maintained direct contact with Baba’s associates and other criminals, ensuring the gang’s dominance persisted.
Her involvement extended beyond drugs. Police suspect she provided shelter to shooters involved in the September 2024 murder of Nadir Shah, a gym owner in Greater Kailash-1, South Delhi. Hashim Baba confessed to orchestrating this killing from Tihar Jail, implicating jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, with whom he forged ties in 2021. Zoya’s logistical support in this case underscored her deep entrenchment in violent crime.
A Lavish Facade
Unlike traditional crime bosses who operate in the shadows, Zoya cultivated a high-profile image. She attended elite parties, flaunted designer brands, and maintained a significant social media following, projecting a life of luxury. This glamorous persona masked her illicit activities, allowing her to operate under the radar while law enforcement struggled to pin evidence on her. Her ability to blend sophistication with ruthlessness earned her the moniker "Lady Don of Delhi."
Zoya Khan Arrested 2025: The Fall of the Lady Don
Zoya Khan’s reign came to a crashing halt on February 19, 2025, when Delhi Police’s Special Cell arrested her in the Welcome area of North East Delhi. After years of evading capture, she was caught red-handed with 225–270 grams of heroin—quantities vary slightly across reports—valued at ₹1 crore in the international market. The arrest marked a significant victory for law enforcement, who had long suspected her involvement in Hashim Baba’s criminal network but lacked concrete proof until this breakthrough.
The Drug Bust
Acting on a tip-off, police laid a trap after learning of a drug delivery Zoya was set to oversee. The heroin, sourced from Muzaffarnagar, was intended for distribution in Delhi, confirming her role as a key player in the narcotics trade. Special Cell ACP Sanjay Dutt and Inspector Sandeep Dabas led the operation, apprehending her as she attempted to hand off the consignment. The bust not only exposed her drug trafficking empire but also dealt a blow to Hashim Baba’s operations.
Legal Implications
Following her arrest on February 19, 2025, Zoya faces charges of drug trafficking under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. As of February 21, 2025, investigations continue, with police probing her links to the Nadir Shah murder and potential ties to Lawrence Bishnoi’s network. Her arrest has sent ripples through Delhi’s underworld, signaling a potential shakeup in gang dynamics.
Controversies: A Life Under Scrutiny
Zoya Khan’s criminal career has been rife with controversy, amplifying her notoriety.
Ties to the Nadir Shah Murder
Her alleged role in sheltering shooters involved in Nadir Shah’s killing in September 2024 remains a focal point of investigation. Interrogated last month at the Special Cell’s Lodhi Colony office, Zoya’s connection to this high-profile murder underscores her influence beyond drug trafficking.
Family Criminal Legacy
Zoya’s family ties to crime—her mother’s sex trafficking arrest and her father’s drug links—have fueled speculation about a generational penchant for illegality. These associations have intensified public and media scrutiny of her life.
Personal Life Beyond Crime
Zoya Khan, now 33, has no children from either marriage. Her relationship with Hashim Baba remains central to her identity, with their 2017 love marriage marking a turning point. Despite her arrest, little is known about her personal aspirations or life outside crime, as she shrouded herself in a dual persona of glamour and secrecy.
Zoya Khan in 2025: Current Status
As of February 21, 2025, Zoya Khan is in custody, awaiting legal proceedings following her arrest two days prior. Her capture has dismantled a significant portion of Hashim Baba’s empire, though investigations into her broader network persist. Her story continues to captivate, blending elements of Bollywood drama with real-world crime.
Legacy: The Lady Don’s Enduring Mark
Zoya Khan’s biography is a tale of transformation—from an ordinary woman to Delhi’s "Lady Don." Her arrest in February 2025 with heroin marks the end of a chapter, but her legacy as a female crime boss endures. She challenged gender norms in the underworld, blending luxury with lawlessness in a way few have. Whether viewed as a villain or a product of circumstance, Zoya’s journey leaves an indelible mark on India’s criminal history.
Conclusion: The Fall of a Crime Queen
Zoya Khan’s life—from her marriages to her reign as the "Lady Don of Delhi"—is a gripping narrative of ambition and downfall. Arrested in February 2025 with heroin worth ₹1 crore, she now faces justice after years of outsmarting the law. Her story, rooted in North East Delhi’s underworld and elevated by her marriage to Hashim Baba, reflects the complexities of crime, power, and survival in modern India.
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