40 cases & 17 years in jail: Punjab Police ex-commando held for attempted robbery

Police have cracked an attempted robbery on Dhanteras day at the house of Gurcharan Singh Romana, son-in-law of former BJP minister Surinder Pal Singh TT, in Chak 42 GG village in Sriganganagar.

Superintendent of Police Dr Amrita Dohan said that the incident was motivated by a personal vendetta of a youth, Bobby, from the same village, who had entrusted the task to the gang of notorious interstate criminal Baljinder Singh alias “Badshah”. Police have arrested Baljinder Singh alias Badshah of Khatrai Kalan village, Ajnala tehsil of Amritsar district, his son Sarabjit Singh alias Chhinda and accomplice Surinder Singh of Chand Vihar, New Delhi.

Investigation indicated that Baljinder Singh had served as a commando in the Punjab Police for about 8 years and also served as a Personal Security Officer (PSO) to a senior police officer in Jagraon.

"Badshah" has a total of 40 cases registered against him in Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana for attempted murder, robbery, assault and snatching. He has been imprisoned for a total of 17 years in various jails, including Tihar Jail. His gang used to commit robberies by posing as police officials.

Investigation indicated that Bobby had an old enmity with the Romana family. Bobby runs a snacks restaurant in Jagraon where “Badshah” and his son Sarabjit Singh were regular visitors. Bobby gave Badshah detailed information about the Romana family, and “Badshah” planned the robbery.

Robbery was planned on October 10 at Jagraon. Members of the gang visited Chak 42 GG and thoroughly reconnoitered the Ramana house. The plan was executed on October 19. A Scorpio vehicle with flashing police lights was used. Six people, one of them wearing a police uniform with a constable's badge on his shoulder, entered Romana’s house and assaulted Gurcharan Singh to get keys to the safe vault. They searched for the DVR of the CCTV cameras but failed. In their haste, they snatched an LED TV which was thrown outside. The criminals were armed with two pistols. They only managed to take away two mobile phones.

Five Police teams meticulously examined footage from over 200 CCTV cameras on the 300km route. The suspects' photos were circulated on social media. Using cyber technology, the police reached New Delhi and arrested “Badshah” and two others.

Investigation indicated that the “Badshah” gang had robbed Rs 3.5 lakh from the Punjab National Bank in Parlika village, Hanumangarh, in 2005. The police had arrested him from Hastinapur, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. He escaped from Nohar jail in 2006.