In first order to Punjab police, Bhagwant Mann directs reconstitution of SIT probing Bikram Majithia drug case

Jupinderjit Singh

Chandigarh, March 20

In his first orders to Punjab Police after assuming charge, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday reconstituted the Special Investigation Team investigating the drug case against SAD leader and ex-Minister Bikram Singh Majithia.

IGP-Crime Branch Gursharan Singh Sandhu, known for his clean and professional service record, would supervise the working of the four-member team which will be headed by an IPS officer, Rahul S. The other members are AIG Ranjit Singh and DSPs Raghbir Singh and Amanpreet Singh.

IG Sandhu’s supervision of the SIT means he will take a call on the line of action and ensure the SIT works within its mandate and remains on course. The actual investigation on the ground and question of accused or witnessed will be done AIG Rahul S and his team, an official explained.

The previous SIT was a three-member team headed by AIG Balraj Singh. The SIT was formed to probe allegations against Majithia based on an FIR lodged under various sections of the NDPS Act on December 20, 2021.

Director Bureau of Investigation B Chandershekhar has issued the orders regarding the formation of the new SIT.

The 49-page FIR was based on an inquiry report by ADGP Harpreet Singh Sidhu, head of the STF against drugs.

Sources said ADGP Sidhu was not happy with the progress made by AIG Balraj’s team and had conveyed this to his superiors.

Further, AIG Balraj was also caught in a controversy on out-of-turn promotion of his son in the police department. On orders of then DGP Sidharth Chattopadhyaya, AIG’s son Princepreet Singh was promoted as Inspector a day after the FIR against Majithia. The AIG had defended the promotion saying his son was denied the due rise in rank earlier.

Notably, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had not talked much about the drug case against Majithia in the election campaign. The party said the law will take its own course in the matter. This was contrary to the party’s strategy in the 2017 Assembly elections, where the party targeted Majithia’s alleged role in drug smuggling. It erected hoardings against Majithia all over the state. However, later Majithia sued Kejriwal for defamation at which the AAP chief apologised in an Amritsar court.