Two Rajasthan teachers arrested for running synthetic drug lab

In a case that reads like the script of a crime thriller, two science teachers from Rajasthan have been arrested for allegedly running a clandestine drug lab inspired by the hit television series Breaking Bad.

The accused — Manoj Bharghav, 25, a government school chemistry teacher, and Indrijeet Bishnoi, 35, a physics tutor at a local coaching centre — were arrested recently by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for manufacturing Mephedrone (MD), a synthetic stimulant often compared to methamphetamine.

The duo allegedly transformed a modest two-bedroom flat in Sri Ganganagar into a makeshift lab, where they produced the banned substance every weekend. The flat, located in a residential area at the heart of the city, was rented just over two months ago for ₹10,000 a month.

According to officials, the lab was equipped with industrial-grade chemicals sourced from local markets. When raided, the NCB recovered 780 grams of ready-to-sell MD, with an estimated street value of ₹1.5 to 2 crore. Authorities believe the two may have sold nearly ₹15 crore worth of drugs in recent months.

What startled investigators most was the unlikely profile of the accused. Bharghav, described by colleagues as a soft-spoken, diligent educator, had shown no signs of criminal inclination. “I’m still in shock,” said school principal Kiran Chhabra. “He was respectful, obedient, and deeply involved in teaching. No one saw this coming.”

Sri Ganganagar, a border district already grappling with a worsening drug crisis, had mostly dealt with opium and low-grade heroin (locally known as chitta). This is reportedly the district’s first major case involving Mephedrone, marking a disturbing shift in the region’s narcotics landscape.

“We had been receiving inputs about MD being sold on the streets, which was unusual for this area,” said NCB Rajasthan Director Ghanshyam Soni. “Our probe led us to this lab — and to two men who had clearly taken notes from Breaking Bad.”

Bharghav and Bishnoi, who hail from nearby villages, allegedly got involved in low-level heroin peddling before turning to synthetic drug manufacturing after binge-watching the acclaimed crime drama.

The story took a further turn on July 10 with the arrest of Ashish Rathi, who police say acted as a distributor of the drugs produced by the duo. Rathi, along with his wife Simran — who is now absconding — has over 20 criminal cases against him. He was arrested just a day after securing bail in another matter.

As investigations continue, the case has sent shockwaves through the community, exposing how cinematic fiction collided with real-life desperation — and how two educators used their knowledge not to uplift, but to destroy.