The Delhi Police Special Cell is once again under intense scrutiny following a Sunday incident where a police officer attached to the unit fatally shot a delivery executive and injured another person. This event has reignited concerns about the unit's conduct and operational effectiveness.
Recent Controversies Plague the Special Cell
Just a few months ago, the unit was embroiled in a major scandal when one of its own officers burgled the high-security store within the cell, stealing cash and valuables worth crores. This heist occurred close to the suspicious murder of businessman Nadir Shah. In Shah's case, two senior officers, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), were reportedly seen near his gym a day before the murder. The area was swarming with Special Cell personnel on the night of the killing. Additionally, counter-intelligence wing officers had met Shah at a farmhouse a week prior to his death. The Times of India had exposed this scandal in March.
Lack of Accountability and Hushed Inquiries
Serving and retired officers of the Special Cell acknowledged that inquiries should have been conducted and accountability enforced to demonstrate that no one is above the law. However, matters were allegedly hushed up. In late 2025, a minor shake-up seemed imminent but quickly fizzled out. Weeks later, the November 10 car bombing that killed over a dozen people brought the unit's performance back under scrutiny.
Failure to Prevent Major Terror Attack
The anti-terror unit was caught off guard as the so-called "doctor-terror module" operated in the National Capital Region (NCR) for over two years, amassing thousands of kilograms of explosives without detection. A police source noted, "The unit strangely seemed indifferent even when Jammu and Kashmir police conducted a raid. A man who escaped the raid managed to lurk in the vicinity of Delhi for nine days before driving his explosives-laden car through different parts of the city for 12 hours and blowing himself up near Red Fort." The blast temporarily jolted the Special Cell into action, leading to quick leads and tracing of the bomber's route, but the damage had already been done.
Decline of an Elite Unit
In May 2024, TOI reported how the unit's functioning had become questionable, posing a serious threat to the capital's security. Once considered among the best in the country, the Special Cell has lost its shine. An officer who retired from the cell explained, "Since then, many old hands and veterans from the unit are gone — either retired or shunted out. Today, it is working as an extension of the intelligence branch, focused on data collection and trying to mimic the operations of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Detection has taken a back seat."
Urgent Need for Reform
Currently, the scattered cell seems in urgent need of an antidote. An ambitious government project to form a dedicated Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) has remained restricted to files, despite sources highlighting its significance as part of the national counter-terror policy.
