UP police to probe IG’s role in ‘freeing’ gangster

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, September 20

Uttar Pradesh’s ADGP (Law and Order) Anand Kumar will probe the alleged deal made by an IG of the UP Police to let go Nabha jailbreak accused Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Ghanshyampura from police detention in Lucknow.

Amitabh Yash, IG, STF, was summoned by Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar. Speaking to the media, Yash denied the charge of any Punjab criminal being detained or released by the STF.

In a press statement, the STF said news in Punjab papers about Gurpreet being detained and released on payment were “imaginary”.

DGP Sulkhan Singh said the audio tape of the conversation about the alleged deal would be probed and taken as evidence, if required.

Earlier, in a statement on social media late last night, the Principal Secretary said: “A high-level inquiry headed by an ADGP-level officer has been ordered into the matter.”

He clarified that they had not received any written complaint from the Punjab Government. He said the government was acting on the basis of newspaper reports.

While Gurpreet was picked up from near a bus stand in Lucknow reportedly on September 10, the arrest was not shown on record either in UP or Punjab.

It was a Facebook message of his accomplice Harjinder Singh Bhullar alias Vicky Gounder, mentioning his arrest and release, that alerted the Punjab Police.

Late yesterday night, CM Yogi Adityanath summoned DGP Sulkhan Singh and the Principal Secretary after which the inquiry was ordered.

Sources said the deal to free Gurpreet from detention was reportedly negotiated by the said officer with three of his alleged collaborators in a Lucknow hotel.

The officer is said to have initially demanded Rs1 crore, but the deal was struck at Rs45 lakh after which Gurpreet was allowed to go.