In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing fight against drugs, Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) on Wednesday has apprehended a former MLA Satkar Kaur Gehri and her nephew, while attempting to peddle 100 grams heroin near Sunny Enclave in Kharar, said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Sukhchain Singh Gill here.
The arrested accused nephew has been identified as Jaskeerat Singh, a native of village Behbal Khurd in Ferozepur and currently residing at Ex-MLA’s house at Sunny Enclave in Kharar. Accused Jaskeerat was driving the car, while, Ex-MLA was sitting along with him. Accused Satkar Kaur has remained an MLA from 2017-2022 from Ferozepur Rural constituency.
Later, Police teams have recovered 28 grams more heroin from the house of Ex-MLA, taking total recovery to 128 grams, and also recovered 1.56 lakh cash, some gold ornaments and several car registration number plates— bearing Haryana and Delhi numbers, during house search. Four vehicles including Toyota Fortuner, BMW, Hyundai Verna and Chevrolet were also impounded.
IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill, while addressing the media, said the teams of ANTF has received a reliable input from source, who claimed that he has been purchasing drugs from Ex-MLA Satkar Kaur. The source even provided substantial evidences including few mobile numbers and call recordings to the police teams, which indicated the involvement of the Ex-MLA in smuggling drugs, he said.
Acting on the information, a sting operation was planned and a decoy, who cracked a deal with the Ex-MLA, was sent at the predetermined location near a kiosk close to Sunny Enclave to execute the transaction, he said, while adding that as they delivered the drugs, ANTF teams swiftly intervened and apprehended both individuals after they made unsuccessful attempt to flee from the spot.
During operation, one police personnel also sustained injuries when accused driver tried to run over the former.
The IGP said that subsequently, a thorough search was conducted at accused’s residence, which led to the recovery of 28 grams heroin, cash believed to be proceeds from drug trafficking and luxury cars along with several vehicle number plates, further implicating Kaur in extensive illicit activities.
He said that further investigations are on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case and more arrests are expected in coming days.
A case FIR no. 159 dated 23/10/2024 has been registered under sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS act at Police Station Special Task Force (STF), SAS Nagar.