Drug nexus: Punjab CM Mann orders dismissal of cop Raj Jit
- April 18, 2023
- Updated: 02:44 am
category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday ordered the dismissal of Punjab Police Service (PPS) officer Raj Jit Singh, acting on reports highlighting an alleged nexus between police officers and drug traffickers in the state. Mann also asked the vigilance bureau to investigate the wealth amassed by the police officer through alleged drug money . The chief minister said the action is in consonance with the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High court to act strictly against those named in reports pertaining to drug trade in the state. Three sealed cover reports regarding the role of police officials in the drug trade in the state were opened by the high court on March 28. These reports were submitted on February 1, March 15 and May 8 in 2018 by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed by the high court. They had been lying in the court since then. After these reports were opened in the high court last month, Mann had said his government would take action based on them. In a tweet in Punjabi on Monday, Mann said, Nobody involved in drug trafficking will be spared. After scrutinising reports of the sealed cover envelopes, Raj Jit Singh PPS has been booked in a drug smuggling case and has been dismissed from service with immediate effect. Vigilance has also been asked to probe assets he amassed with chitta (drugs) smuggling. Details soon. Later, Mann, in a statement, said this is just the beginning and all those who are involved in this sin will be brought to book. He alleged that the drug trade, which had flourished during the previous Akali-BJP and the Congress regimes, had ruined the future generations of the state, asserting that none of the previous governments was sincere to take action against those who had ruined the future of Punjab. Raj Jit Singh was till Monday posted as Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) headquarters non-resident Indians, Chandigarh. The SIT, formed in 2017, had the mandate to probe allegations of complicity of Raj Jit Singh, the then senior superintendent of police, Moga, in respect of his alleged association with dismissed police inspector Inderjit Singh. Inderjit Singh was dismissed following recovery of drugs by the special task force in 2017. One of the reports stated that significant points have emerged which indicate complicity of Raj Jit Singh with Inderjit Singh. The report said when Raj Jit Singh was posted as the Tarn Taran SSP on April 4, 2013, he requested for the posting of Inderjit Singh in Tarn Taran after transferring him from Jalandhar. The report mentioned that there were 19 regular inspectors and 41 regular sub-inspectors who were senior to Inderjit Singh in Tarn Taran. It also stated that Raj Jit Singh recommended a double promotion for Inderjit Singh. Raj Jit Singh certified that no criminal case or departmental inquiry was pending against Inderjit Singh, but cases were pending against him, stated the report. (editor dailyworld.in)