Fazilka drug racket: 5 get 20-year jail

Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, October 31

The court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge has sentenced nine persons to imprisonment in a trans-border heroin smuggling racket which surfaced here in 2015. 

The court also issued summons to Leader of the Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira under Section 319 of the CrPC following an application from the prosecution. He has been told to appear on November 30.

Sources said the court had awarded punishment of 20 years each to Harbans Singh, Subhash Chander, Gurdev Chand, Gurdev Singh and Manjeet Singh.

Each convict has also been fined Rs 9 lakh. In case of their failure to deposit the fine, they shall have to undergo imprisonment of another two years.

Gurdev Singh is a former chairman of the Market Committee, Dhilwan. 

Sonia, a dancer, has been sentenced to 10-year imprisonment, Manjit Singh six years, Sandeep, alias Shanty, and Nirmal Singh three years each.

These persons were arrested by the Jalalabad police on March 9, 2015,  along with 2-kg heroin, 24 gold biscuits, one country-made pistol, two Pakistani SIM cards and a Tata Safari vehicle.

The police had filed a challan against the accused on September 16, 2015. The name of Khaira, former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson, had then cropped up for his alleged association with Gurdev Singh. 

Khaira had denied the allegations and claimed that then ruling party leaders were trying to malign his political image. His name did not figure in the challan.

When contacted today, Khaira said he was unaware of the development (issuing of the summons).