Cong councillor’s son took ₹1.5 lakh for stashing drugs at his house: STF
AMRITSAR : The son of a Congress councillor from Amritsar took ₹1.5 lakh for storing a consignment of heroin, which was later seized from an Akali leader’s house, at his family residence on Majitha road in the city for a month, the Punjab Police’s antidrug special task force (STF) claimed.
Sahil Sharma, whose father Pardeep Sharma is Congress councilor from ward number 52, had surrendered in an Amritsar court on March 2, over a month after remaining underground.
The STF on January 31 recovered 194-kg heroin from local Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Anwar Masih’s house that was purportedly taken on rent by the accused in the Sultanwind area of Amritsar. The racket members had allegedly even set up a laboratory in the house to refine the heroin and increase its volume by using chemicals, the task force had said.
A senior STF official said, “Sahil came in contact with Sukhbir Singh, one of the key accused in the case, at a wedding function. Sukhbir later sought his help in hiding the contraband and paid him ₹1.5 lakh in three installments.”
“Sahil also transported the contraband in his car to Masih’s house after it was kept in his Majitha Road residence. He is still being questioned. More revelations are expected,” he added.
Sahil’s father Pardeep joined the probe after the STF issued him a notice in February. Pardeep claimed the house no more belonged to him as he gave it to his wife five years ago after they got divorced. He also claimed to have no link with his son.
Sahil is in STF custody till March 14. After the recovery, the STF had sent a contraband sample to the food and drug testing laboratory, Khara, Amritsar. “We have received the report that says the sample contained 100% pure heroin,” said STF assistant inspector general (AIG) Rashpal Singh.
EXTRADITION PROCESS OF KINGPIN BEGINS
AIG Rashpal said they have initiated the process of extraditing the racket kingpin, Simranjit Singh Sandhu of Amritsar, who is an Australian passport holder. Sandhu was detained in Italy on the basis of a red-corner notice issued by Interpol on request of Gujarat anti-terrorism squad (ATS).
“Our probe is almost complete. We will file chargesheet soon. We have also initiated the formalities for sending the case to the Centre to get Sandhu extradited,” he said. Sandhu is wanted by the Gujarat ATS in the smuggling of 300kg heroin allegedly offloaded at Mandavi in the state before being transported to Punjab.