Rajasthan’s Breaking Bad: Two Teachers Arrested for Running ₹15 Crore Meth Lab

In a quiet neighborhood of Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, a story unfolded recently that seemed almost too bizarre to be true. Two men, both former science teachers, found themselves at the center of a major narcotics investigation. The case would have seemed like the plot of a TV series had it not been chillingly real.

Manoj Bhargav, 25, and Indrajeet Vishnoi, 35, were not your typical criminals. One was a respected government school science teacher. The other was a former physics lecturer preparing for the Rajasthan Administrative Services exams. But behind the façade of chalkboards and textbooks, the two were secretly operating a sophisticated synthetic drug lab from a rented flat in a residential building. According to officials, the pair had been deeply inspired by the American TV show Breaking Bad, where a high school chemistry teacher descends into the criminal underworld by manufacturing methamphetamine.

Their setup, nestled inside the Dream Homes Apartment complex, was anything but amateur. Hidden behind closed doors and beneath the quiet hum of ceiling fans, they had assembled what investigators described as a fully operational chemical lab. It was here that they began producing mephedrone, a powerful and illegal synthetic stimulant known on the street as “meow meow” or “white magic.”

The lab, according to authorities from the Narcotics Control Bureau, was impressively well-equipped. It featured advanced heating mantles, digital scales, chemical flasks, and a variety of precursor chemicals including bromine, methylamine, acetone, and 4-methylpropiophenone. Over the course of just two and a half months, the duo allegedly manufactured nearly five kilograms of the drug. By the time the bureau raided the premises on July 8, 2025, most of it had already been sold. Investigators seized 780 grams during the raid, still valued at over two crore rupees on the street.

For residents of the area, the news came as a shock. Both men had been considered intelligent, polite, and upstanding members of the community. Vishnoi, who left teaching to focus on civil service preparation, was often seen as a role model. Bhargav, younger and energetic, had taught middle school students and was admired by his peers. Few could imagine that these two, who once helped children solve physics problems and science experiments, were now under arrest for orchestrating one of Rajasthan’s most high-profile drug operations.

What drove them down this path remains a complex question. In conversations with law enforcement, it became clear that the influence of Breaking Bad played a surprisingly literal role. The duo reportedly watched the entire series during the pandemic lockdown and began researching drug chemistry online soon after. They became fascinated by the technical precision involved in drug synthesis and convinced themselves that, like the show's protagonist Walter White, they could stay one step ahead of the law.

Initially, they maintained the appearance of normalcy. Bhargav continued his job while Vishnoi used his free time to travel to Delhi, where they sourced lab equipment and chemicals under the guise of academic research. Eventually, they set up shop in a quiet flat where no one asked too many questions. From there, they began building a network of clients and middlemen to distribute the drug across Rajasthan and even into parts of Punjab.

Among their suspected collaborators was Ashish Rathi, a local distributor who was also arrested. His wife, Simran, believed to be involved in the sale and logistics of the operation, is currently on the run. Investigators are now combing through digital records and financial transactions to identify others involved.

Sri Ganganagar has not been untouched by the drug crisis that grips parts of northern India, particularly in districts bordering Punjab and Pakistan. The area has seen more than 150 drug-related deaths since early 2024, many tied to synthetic substances. But this was the first known instance of a high-tech lab being operated by locals with no known ties to any cartel or criminal gang.

The case has become a wake-up call not only for local authorities but also for the broader public. It is a stark reminder of how vulnerable even educated, law-abiding individuals can become when lured by the promise of quick wealth. The fact that two men trained in science, both with stable careers, could be swayed by a fictional TV show and internet forums into producing dangerous drugs speaks volumes about the complex interplay of media influence, ambition, and opportunity.

The bureau is now focusing on dismantling the remaining distribution network, tracking chemical suppliers, and tightening regulations on the purchase of industrial precursors. Both Bhargav and Vishnoi are in judicial custody and will likely face serious charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, a law that can carry severe penalties including long-term imprisonment.

As the community continues to grapple with the news, parents, students, and neighbors are left wondering how two educators entrusted with shaping young minds could instead turn their talents to something so destructive. It is, in many ways, a tragic story, one not just of crime but of potential wasted and trust betrayed.

In the end, this real-life version of Breaking Bad has left behind more than just legal consequences. It has shaken a community and forced a difficult conversation about how knowledge, if misused, can turn from a tool of growth into an instrument of harm.