The Punjab Police have told the Punjab and Haryana high court that Punjabi singer KS Makhan, a Canadian citizen, who is facing trial in a heroin smuggling case, might flee if granted permission to go abroad. In an affidavit, the police said the challan against Makhan and seven others had been filed in the court of the additional district and sessions judge, Jalandhar, adding that court proceedings might be stalled if Makhan was allowed to leave India.

The police have asked the high court to dismiss Makhan's plea seeking permission to go abroad in view of the circumstances of the case and in the interests of justice. The plea will come up for hearing on Friday. The trial court had dismissed a similar petition by Makhan.

According to the affidavit, Makhan's seven accomplices have been declared proclaimed offenders. The police said though the challan had been filed in the court, charges were yet to be framed against Makhan as he had filed an application in the HC for discharge. This application will come up for hearing on November 23.

Makhan, presently out on bail, is living at his native village, Shankar (Nakodar). He and the others had been booked under sections 8, 21, 25, 29, 60 and 61 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on August 1, 2006.

As per the FIR, Makhan and two other Canadian citizens received a supply of heroin from the brother of singer Hardeep Singh, also a resident of Shankar village. It is alleged that Makhan, Raja Boparai and Lakhwinder Singh Lakha used to send money through the hawala route to Hardeep Singh Kala to purchase drugs from smugglers in Jalandhar, Nakodar and Ludhiana.