Initial probe finds no link between Bhagwanpuria & Randhawa: Govt
CHANDIGARH: Amid allegations of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia against jails minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa of patronising jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, the state government on Wednesday said a preliminary inquiry ordered by chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh has ruled out any links between the gangster and the minister.
In a statement, the government said a senior Punjab Police officer has also rejected allegations about the notorious gangster being given “five-star treatment” in jail under political pressure. The statement claimed that in the wake of reports of these allegations, the CM had ordered an inquiry to be conducted under the supervision of DGP (intelligence).
“Though the final report (of the probe) is yet to come, initial investigations have showed no links whatsoever between the gangster and Randhawa, according to the intelligence wing of the Punjab Police,” it said.
Majithia, who has held more than ten press conferences on the issue, has repeatedly alleged that Bhagwanpuria is running his extortion racket from inside Patiala jail because he belongs to Dera Baba Nanak constituency represented by Randhawa.
The gangster’s mother is also said to be a village-level member of the Congress in the constituency. Randhawa has strongly rejected these allegations and instead accused Majithia of sheltering Bhagwanpuria under the previous SAD-BJP regime.
The Punjab Police have also categorically denied any political pressure on the police to “go soft” on the gangster, pointing out that the crackdown on associates and aides of Bhagwanpuria had been continuing for the past several months, the statement said.
The police said that in November, Baljit Singh was apprehended in Amritsar district with weapons and gold, while in October, gangster Harminder Singh was arrested in Jalandhar district with arms and ammunition. Both are known to be close aides of Jaggu, the statement said.
A spokesperson added ADGP (prisons) had denied any fivestar treatment for the gangster in Patiala jail, where he has been kept in the high security zone.
The spokesperson said a preliminary inquiry by ADGP (prisons) has revealed that Bhagwanpuria continues to be lodged in a separate cell like other prisoners lodged in high-security zones and his activities are on continuous and strict watch.
Bhagwanpuria, a gangster primarily active in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts, had been involved in many cases of murder, contract killings, robbery and extortion. He was allegedly involved in 47 cases under the regime, said the statement.