DIG probes VVIP treatment to singer Karan Aujla in jail

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 10

Two days after VVIP treatment was accorded to Punjabi singer Karan Aujla during his visit to the Central Jail, DIG (Prisons) Surinder Singh Saini today visited the premises to conduct an inquiry.

Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had marked an inquiry in the case and asked ADGP (Prisons) PK Sinha to probe negligence on part of Jail Superintendent Rajeev Arora. The ADGP has assigned the probe to DIG (Prisons) SS Saini.

Sources said the DIG spent six hours inside the jail and examined the CCTV footage to ascertain whether or not there were any violations of security or Covid norms while the singer and his friends entered the jail and if the singer met any inmate.

The DIG questioned Jail Superintendent Arora and staff present on security duty at the time about the episode. He also asked Arora if the singer was allowed to meet any inmate. There were reports the singer had gone to meet smuggler Gurdeep Singh Rano, nabbed recently with drug worth crores, drug money and 13 luxury cars by the special task force. Arora has already denied any such meeting.

ADGP Sinha said the DIG was sent to conduct the probe. “Let him submit the report. Only then can I comment on the extent of negligence on part of the Jail Superintendent,” he said.

Mayor lent Gypsy

In a report submitted to Police Commissioner Rakesh Agrawal, officials have confirmed the use of Ludhiana Mayor’s official Gypsy (in pic) during the singer’s visit. The Gypsy led the cavalcade into the jail. The Mayor said his son was friends with Karan Aujla and had taken the Gypsy along to oblige Aujla, who was ‘not a criminal’