Punjab DGP gives nod to book 2 former DIGs under NDPS

Tribune News Service

Jupinderjit Singh
Chandigarh, April 20

The Director General of Police (DGP) has approved the registration of a case under the NDPS Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act against two former DIGs (Prisons) for allegedly disposing of drugs seized from Ferozepur Jail inmates “at their own level, without any intimation to the higher authorities”. The action comes following an inquiry report by the Punjab Bureau of Investigation.

Against 241 seizures of intoxicants and mobile phones from the inmates, the accused officials, Lakhminder Singh Jakhar and Sukhdev Singh Saggu, allegedly reported only one incident to the police.

The matter pertains to the period between 2005 and 2011,while they were posted as jail superintendents at Ferozepur.

Ferozepur City SHO Gurpreet Singh said further action was being taken in the case after obtaining a fresh compliant from complainant Karamjit Singh Bhullar, who was earlier posted as Assistant Jail Superintendent at Ferozepur. He has been pursuing the case for several years and is currently posted as Assistant Superintendent, Borstal Jail, Ludhiana.

The accused defend themselves saying they acted within the discretionary powers vested in a jail superintendent under the jail manual to recommend registration of an FIR or give punishment within the jail or issue a warning.

“The quantities seized from inmates were not big enough to get criminal cases registered against the inmates. The prison policy is more reformatory in nature than imposing cases after cases on the inmates. This burdens the judiciary too,” Jakhar said.

He said they were not heard by the inquiry officer and that the action was discriminatory and ex parte.

“We were called just once by the investigating officer on February 22. We requested a future date so that we can prepare our reply by getting the old record of the incidents that occurred over a decade ago. But we were never called again. We are hearing about the inquiry and recommendation by the DGP from you only,” Jakhar said.

Ex-DIG Sukhdev Singh Saggu could not be contacted for comments. Jakhar, however, defended Saggu saying under the rules, a prosecuting agency cannot proceed against a government official three years after his retirement.

He claimed the Ferozepur police have not summoned them so far.

The inquiry report by IG, Bureau of Investigation, Gautam Cheema said the officials did not join the investigation.

‘Concealed seizures’

• LS Jakhar, SS Saggu allegedly disposed of drugs seized from jail, didn’t inform authorities
• Of 241 seizures, reported only 1

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