Punjab Congress spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Friday approached the Punjab and Haryana high court, seeking a restraint order to the state police against any coercive action against him in a drug haul seizure case reported in March in Fazilka. The Congress leader has also sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the incident, which is being probed by a state government-constituted special investigation team (SIT).
The HC has issued notices on the petition, wherein Khaira has sought directions that if he had to be summoned or arrested by police, a one-month notice prior to any action be given to him. The notices have been issued for May 19 on the petition, seeking to implead the Punjab home secretary and director general of police (DGP), among other officials, as parties.
In March, the Fazilka police had registered an FIR in which 11 persons were named, including a Khaira "supporter", Gurdev Singh. The FIR was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Arms Act at Jalalabad police station in a case wherein the police claimed to have seized 2kg heroin, two Pakistani SIM cards, one Pakistani mobile phone, 24 gold biscuits (333 gm), two firearms and an SUV (sports utility vehicle).
Khaira has also submitted that he fears grave threat to him and his family members for speaking against the ruling party and for naming political persons involved in different kinds of mafias in illegal sand mining, cable network, liquor and transport business in the state. A complaint to the Jalandhar office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was also given by me to probe the role of Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the drug racket, the Congress leader claimed, seeking protection for him and his family. He further claimed that he was being dragged into this case by the state machinery to victimise him.
{{/usCountry}}Khaira has also submitted that he fears grave threat to him and his family members for speaking against the ruling party and for naming political persons involved in different kinds of mafias in illegal sand mining, cable network, liquor and transport business in the state. A complaint to the Jalandhar office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was also given by me to probe the role of Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the drug racket, the Congress leader claimed, seeking protection for him and his family. He further claimed that he was being dragged into this case by the state machinery to victimise him.
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