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 of 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 the village of Behbal Khurd in Ferozepur who currently resides at the ex-MLA’s house at Sunny Enclave in Kharar. Accused Jaskeerat was driving the car, while the ex-MLA was sitting along with him. Accused Satkar Kaur remained an MLA from 2017-2022 from the Ferozepur Rural constituency.
Later, Police teams recovered 28 grams more heroin from the house of Ex-MLA, taking the 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 a 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 have received reliable input from the source, who claimed that he has been purchasing drugs from Ex-MLA Satkar Kaur. The source even provided substantial evidence including a 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 an unsuccessful attempt to flee from the spot.
During the operation, one police personnel also sustained injuries when the accused driver tried to run over the former.
The IGP said that subsequently, a thorough search was conducted at the accused’s residence, which led to the recovery of 28 grams of 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.
