Gagandeep had mobile in jail

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, May 11

In a serious security lapse at the Nabha jail, the main conspirator in the Meet murder case, Gagandeep Singh Dhillon, was found using a mobile phone in the prison.

“Gagandeep was in touch with his accomplices, including Harjinder Singh, alias Laddi, and Amandeep Singh, alias Mani, through the WhatsApp calling facility from the jail,” claimed the Mohali police. Laddi and Mani, along with an unidentified accomplice, had fired at least 11 bullets at bouncer Amit Sharma, alias Meet, near the Saketri temple around 11.30 am on Monday. 

The Mohali police claimed that Gagandeep was using a mobile phone with a Jio SIM card and was in constant touch with his friend circle, including Mani and Laddi, from the jail. “He used to make phone calls through the Whatsapp calling facility,” said the police. The mobile phone had been recovered and the call details were being scanned, said the police.  “It’s certainly a matter of investigation how Gagandeep got the phone in the jail; whether it was a serious security lapse or was being done in connivance with the jail staff,” said a senior police official here today. 

The police are yet to identify the third accomplice of Laddi and Mani. 

“During his interrogation, Gagandeep told the police that he was not aware about the third accused, present at the murder spot along with Laddi and Mani. He may be a friend of the duo. He will be identified only after the arrest of the executors of the murder,” said Kuldeep Singh Chahal, Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police.  Several teams of the Mohali police are on the hunt of the duo in Delhi, Haryana, Patiala and certain parts of Himachal Pradesh. 

Gagandeep, whose two-day remand ended today, was again produced before the local court, which sent him to judicial custody.

Cops rule out contract killing

The Mohali police have ruled out the contract killing angle in the Meet case. Inspector Atul Soni, in-charge of the Mohali CIA, claimed that Laddi and Mani were friends of Gagandeep. “Gagandeep had hatched the murder plan and roped in the duo to execute the crime, but no money was given or taken,” said Inspector Soni.