On drug trail, cops raid Paonta Sahib house, seize over Rs 59 lakh

Pankaj Sharma

Nahan, August 5

The police have seized over Rs 59 lakh unaccounted-for cash during a raid at the residence of Sanjay Kumar and his wife Poonam in ward 10 of Paonta Sahib. Acting on specific intelligence that narcotics might be hidden at the location, the police conducted a search and found Rs 59,10,100 hidden in a secret cavity within an almirah in a bedroom.

The cash was seized under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), raising questions over its origin. Sanjay Kumar managed to escape within minutes of the arrival of the police.

Kumar is no stranger to controversies as he had been booked in two cases under Section 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act registered at the Paonta Sahib police station in 2017 and 2020. The cases pertained to the seizure of 16.89 grams and 2.40 grams of heroin.

The seizure of the large amount of cash has raised a suspicion over Kumar’s alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking and other illegal activities. Authorities are intensifying their efforts to track him down, besides finding out the source of the money and any potential connection to a larger criminal network.

Paonta Sahib Deputy Superintendent of Police Aditi Singh, a probationary IPS officer, said they had launched a manhunt to nab Sanjay Kumar, while his wife Poonam was being questioned.

The police have also urged the public to come forward with any information that could help track Sanjay Kumar, stressing that those who aid him in evading arrest will also face legal consequences.

The case has sparked a concern in the local community, where drug-related offences are on the rise. The authorities are expected to scrutinise the financial transactions and contacts of the absconding suspect. The probe is likely to have far-reaching implications as law enforcement agencies work to dismantle drug networks operating in Sirmaur district.