Arya News - The police official has been identified as ASI Sukhdev Singh and was posted with the CIA staff, while police have released Mahant Kashmir Giri after his arrest on charges of drug trafficking.
CHANDIGARH – An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Punjab Police has been suspended after a now-viral video from a Hindu religious leader’s home allegedly showed him planting drugs under a bed mattress before a raid by police officials.
As per reports, the incident took place in Ludhiana district and has raised major questions over the conduct of the Khanna Police.
The police official has been identified as ASI Sukhdev Singh and was posted with the CIA staff, while police have released Mahant Kashmir Giri after his arrest on charges of drug trafficking.
Sukhdev Singh was suspended by Khanna SSP Dr Darpan Ahluwalia.
The matter came into the spotlight after police carried out a raid at Mahant Kashmir Giri’s home in Khanna town. This was done after the arrest of Giri’s driver, Gurjant Singh alias Janta, who was allegedly taken into custody with 7.5 grams of heroin.
Later on, it was claimed by officials that the driver’s interrogation in the matter led them to Mahant Kashmir Giri. Following this, a police team reached Giri’s residence to conduct a raid.
At first, it was stated by officials that they had recovered around 30 grams of heroin from beneath a bed mattress and arrested the mahant in a drug trafficking case.
However, the matter took a drastic turn when the footage of a hidden camera installed at the house went viral. It purportedly showed the police official, dressed in plain clothes, entering the room and allegedly placing a packet beneath the bed mattress.
Later on, police officials arrived at the spot and were accompanied by Mahant Kashmir Giri. During the search, they claimed to have discovered heroin from the same spot where the ASI was allegedly seen placing the packet.
Senior police officials said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by an officer of Superintendent of Police rank, has been constituted to further investigate the incident. It is expected to authenticate the viral footage as well as the alleged role of the suspended ASI.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over the “disgusting act”.
“See the disgusting act of the AAP government’s police in Punjab… In Khanna, Ludhiana, CCTV footage shows ASI Sukhdev Singh placing something under the bed in the house of Shiv Sena leader Baba Kashmir Giri, and then the police ‘recover’ 30 grams of heroin from the exact same spot! Those who claim to free Punjab from drugs are now planting drugs in the homes of saints and mahatmas themselves! The conspiracy is clear… Target Sanatana… Frame saints in fake cases… And hide your failures! But remember… the Hindus of this country are watching all this, and they will settle the score for this conspiracy,” read a post on the official X handle of the BJP.
Apart from the BJP, Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also hit out at the Punjab government over the video and the police’s conduct.
“Welcome to the AAP model of “Law & Order”! Khanna Police ASI was caught live on CCTV secretly hiding a packet of drugs under a mattress inside a home! @AAPPunjab promised home delivery of services, but who knew it included home-delivered drugs by the Punjab Police to frame citizens? Is this how Punjab Police delivers “Badlav” under your supervision, Guru Dokhi @BhagwantMann?” he posted.