Heroin smuggling: No charges against Sukhpal Singh Khaira
Former Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira’s name does not figure in the chargesheet filed by the police in the court on Wednesday, though the district police had linked his name with drug peddlers in the heroin smuggling case six months ago.
Former Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira’s name does not figure in the chargesheet filed by the police in the court on Wednesday, though the district police had linked his name with drug peddlers in the heroin smuggling case six months ago.
The police, who had then tried hard to prove Khaira’s alleged links with drug smugglers, are now tightlipped over his involvement, in the chargesheet.
On March 5, the police had claimed that they had seized 2-kg heroin, 2 Pakistani SIM cards, a mobile phone, 24 gold biscuits (333 gm), two small arms and a Tata Safari from Gurdev Singh of Bholath, former chairman of the market committee, Dhilwan. Gurdev was said to be a close associate of Khaira.
A case was registered under several sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Arms Act and the Information Technology Act at Jalalabad sadar police station against 10 people. However, the special investigation team formed to investigate the matter is yet to submit its report.
“We have filed a chargesheet only against those who have been arrested so far,” said Fazilka SSP Swapan Sharma.
Meanwhile, Sharma refused to give details of the investigation and avoided saying anything on the police’s changed stance.
Ferozepur deputy inspector general (DIG) Amar Singh Chahal, who is heading the SIT, said the police could not disclose anything as the matter is sub judice. Asked whether the police had given a clean chit to Khaira, Chahal said, “The investigation is on and we will submit our reply in the high court.”
Khaira’s plea
In May, Khaira had filed a petition in the court accusing the police of falsely implicating him in the drug case registered against some of his supporters, besides seeking orders from the court to restrain the police to take any action against him.
Reacting to the development, Khaira said the chargesheet filed by the police clearly showed that he had nothing to do with the case. “My name was dragged only with a view to defaming and harassing me,” Khaira further said.
What police claimed then
The police had claimed that Khaira and his confidante Gurdev, a resident of Lakhan Ke Padda village in Kapurthala, had allegedly spoken over phone on 78 occasions during the past 11 months from the time the police arrested Gurdev on March 5.
The police had also claimed that during investigation it also came to the fore that Gurdev allegedly remained in touch with Khaira through his personal security officer (PSO) Joga Singh.
Gurdev spoke to Khaira six times from his driver Manjit Singh’s mobile phone to Joga Singh’s mobile phone.
The police had maintained that Gurdev’s sister, who is in the United Kingdom, also contacted Khaira several times, besides claiming that Gurdev allegedly had funded Khaira’s elections since 1997.