Confidant questioned, Cong MLA has a face-off with SBS Nagar SSP

JALANDHAR: Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar Congress MLA Angad Singh and senior superintendent of police Harmanbir Singh Gill had an altercation on Thursday after the MLA’S confidant Vikas Soni was brought in for questioning in the 2019 liquor smuggling case.

The MLA and his supporters also staged a protest against the SSP in front of the district administration complex in the evening. “Soni was questioned for 45 minutes and then let off,” an official said.

A special investigation team, comprising former SSP Alka Meena, SP (investigation) Wazir Singh Khaira and SP (Khanna) Manpreet Singh as its members had indicted and named Vikas Soni as accused in the same liquor smuggling case on August 19. The SIT had directed the SHO to arrest Soni and filed challan against him.

A senior official, seeking anonymity, said the district police had taken the accused into custody, but he was let off due to pressure from authorities.

Sadar station house officer Satish Kumar, however, denied that Soni was brought to the police station to be arrested. “I have recently joined the police station and questioned Soni as his name had figured in the liquor smuggling case.”

On the SIT’S findings, Kumar said that he was not aware of the SIT’S findings and had not received any report. Meanwhile, senior officials refused to comment on the matter.

Addressing his supporters, Angad Singh said Congress workers were being harassed after Harmanbir Singh joined as SSP. “Soni was falsely implicated in the case. A report was prepared in the back date because Soni helped me take possession of land in Amritsar,” said the MLA, asking why the report was completed just two days before the transfer of former SSP and if Soni was guilty, why no action was taken in the last year.