Court issues fresh summons to AAP leader Khaira in drug case

Ferozepur, November 30

A court in Fazilka district on Thursday issued fresh summons against the Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, in a trans-border drug smuggling case after the Aam Aadmi Party MLA did not appear.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had on November 17 turned down Khaira's plea challenging the issuance of summons by the trial court to him for appearance on November 30.

It had, however, quashed the non-bailable warrants issued against him by the court and directed it to decide the matter on merit.

Additional District and Sessions judge, Fazilka, Sandeep Singh Jossan today issued summons to Khaira and four other accused asking them to appear on December 21 to record their statements in the case under the NDPS Act.

Others who were issued summons were Khaira's personal security officer (PSO) Joga Singh, personal assistant Manish, Charanjit Kaur, a resident of Bath village (Jalandhar); and Major Singh Bajwa of Bajwa Kalan village (Jalandhar).

Khaira was not present in the court today.

The Fazilka court had on October 31 sentenced nine persons to imprisonment in the trans-border heroin smuggling racket which surfaced in 2015.

It had issued summons to Khaira for November 30 under Section 319 of the CrPC (power to proceed against other persons appearing to be guilty of offence) following an application from the prosecution.

Khaira had then moved the High Court on November 3 against the Fazilka court's order. Khaira and AAP had alleged that the case was an instance of political vendetta.

Those convicted were arrested by the police on March 9, 2015, along with 2-kg heroin, 24 gold biscuits, one country-made pistol, two Pakistani SIM cards and a SUV. — PTI