Punjab officer suspended after CCTV shows drugs being planted at leader's home
A Special Investigation Team has been formed to probe an ASI caught on camera hiding heroin under a mattress.
An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) has been suspended after hidden-camera footage allegedly showed him planting heroin at the residence of Shiv Sena leader Mahant Kashmir Giri in Khanna. According to reports from India Today and The Times of India, the video shows ASI Sukhdev Singh, who was posted with the CIA staff, entering a room in plain clothes and placing a package under a mattress.
The footage was recorded at the home of Mahant Kashmir Giri. Shortly after the officer was seen hiding the package, a police team arrived to search the room and reported finding approximately 30 grams of heroin under the mattress. Following the recovery, the Mahant was arrested, but he has since been discharged from the case.
Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Darpan Ahluwalia confirmed the suspension of ASI Sukhdev Singh and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by an officer of Superintendent of Police (SP) rank. Ahluwalia stated that all aspects of the case are being examined and emphasised that police accountability is vital in the war against drugs.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on X, accusing the administration of failing to maintain law and order. AAP cabinet minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said action had been taken against the ASI and suggested that political parties were attempting to malign the image of Punjab.