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‘Punjab govt ignored FIR, blocked action': ED ex-official says convicts named Bikram Singh Majithia
Mohali: Former ED deputy director Niranjan Singh on Saturday said that though SAD leader
Bikram Singh Majithia
's name had not emerged directly in the Rs 6,000-crore drug and money laundering racket which he probed, several convicted accused had mentioned him.
Talking to media after recording his statement with the Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) in connection with the latest disproportionate assets (DA) case against Majithia, Singh said drug kingpin Jagdish Singh Bhola had also named the former Punjab minister belonging to the Shiromani Akali Dal. "Multiple accused took his name. I was pressurised at the time not to proceed further in that direction. The then Punjab govt ignored the FIR and blocked further action," Singh said.
Niranjan Singh had led the investigation into the Rs 6,000-crore case,
He added that despite the pressure, he continued with the case and secured convictions for 17 accused. "When I resigned in protest, the high court stayed my resignation and ordered me to carry on with the investigation," he added.
Clarifying his appearance before the bureau, Singh said the present case pertained to disproportionate assets, but he shared the same foundational links to the earlier drug investigation.
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"I informed vigilance that all related documents and recorded statements are available in the ED's record room. They can access those records, and if needed, I am willing to assist again," he said.
He reiterated his personal commitment to the fight against
drug trafficking
. "I stand with Punjab in its battle against drugs. I've always stood on the side of truth," he said.
Majithia, who has consistently denied the charges, was recently arrested by VB from his Amritsar residence in a fresh FIR.
He has been remanded in police custody for seven days.
BOX
The 6,000cr case
On July 30 last year, the
Enforcement Directorate
(ED) special court found former deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Jagdish Singh Bhola and 17 others guilty in a massive drug trafficking case worth approximately Rs 6,000 crore
The case, which surfaced in March 2013, came to light following the arrest of Canadian NRI Anoop Singh Kahlon in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab
Bhola, a dismissed DSP and Arjuna Award winner for his feats in wrestling, was subsequently arrested, sparking controversy with his allegations against prominent figures
The case unveiled a major international drug trafficking racket, with Bhola's claims implicating high-profile individuals, including politician Bikram Singh Majithia.
