Chandigarh, Nov 2 An assistant sub-inspector, posted in Ludhiana’s Khanna, was suspended after a purported video showing him allegedly keeping a packet under the mattress at the house of Shiv Sena leader Mahant Kashmir Giri surfaced, police said on Monday.
Giri was arrested in connection with the “recovery of drugs” from his residence on Saturday in Khanna.
Police later discharged Giri after the purported video captured from a hidden camera at his residence showed a policeman in plain clothes allegedly entering the room and placing a packet under the mattress.
The video was widely circulated on social media.
Taking serious note of the incident, Khanna SSP Darpan Ahluwalia placed ASI Sukhdev Singh under suspension.
She also formed a special investigation team under the SP to investigate the matter.
The SSP said Punjab Police has a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal activity and corruption in the NDPS cases.
Considering the seriousness of the matter, an SIT has been formed, and it will probe all aspects, she said.
“I want to clarify to all citizens that the accountability of the Punjab police is most important in ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (anti-drug drive). The law is above everyone, whether it is an accused, a drug smuggler or a police employee,” she asserted.
The purported CCTV footage showed a police team entering the room immediately after the packet was allegedly placed. Another policeman could then be seen recovering something from the same spot where the ASI earlier placed it.
Initially, police had arrested Giri’s driver with 7.50 grams of heroin. Following his questioning, police held Giri after claiming to have seized 30 grams of heroin.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal slammed the AAP government over this incident.
“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,” said Badal in a post on X.
(PTI News)
