Faridkot DSP Lakhvir Singh held for accepting Rs 10 lakh bribe from drug supplier

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh/Tarn Taran, July 6

Reaffirming the firm commitment of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to make Punjab a corruption-free state, Punjab Police on Wednesday arrested Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Faridkot Lakhvir Singh for accepting Rs 10 lakh as a bribe from a drug supplier for not nominating him in the FIR registered under NDPS Act in Tarn Taran, said Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav here on Wednesday.

The development came after the Tarn Taran district police had arrested a drug supplier identified as Pishora Singh from a petrol pump near Patti Morh after recovering 250 grams opium and Rs 1 lakh drug money from his possession on Sunday. Accused Pishora, a resident of Model Boparai village in Tarn Taran was wanted in the FIR dated June 30, 2022, in which his aide Surjit Singh of Mari Megha village in Tarn Taran was arrested with 900 grams of opium.

Divulging details, DGP Gaurav Yadav said during investigations by the Tarn Taran Police, Surjit revealed that he had purchased opium from Pishora, who is the main drug supplier.

 “When Police started conducting raids to arrest him, Pishora tried to bribe Patti CIA Incharge by offering Rs 7-8 lakhs through ASI Rashpal Singh (posted as MHC CIA Patti), in lieu of not arresting and nominating him in this case, but the incharge refused to accept the bribe,” he said, while adding that the police teams continued their efforts to arrest Pishora.

Later, Pishora met Rashpal Singh’s brother Hira Singh through his acquaintance Nishan Singh of Sito village in Tarn Taran, and together they approached DSP Lakhvir, who also happened to be the cousin of Hira Singh, where the DSP negotiated the settlement at Rs 10 lakhs to help the drug supplier, said the DGP, adding that the accused DSP instructed Hira to keep the amount with him.

On the disclosure of Pishora Singh, the police have also recovered Rs 9.97 lakhs from the house of Hira Singh, he said.

Reiterating the commitment of the Punjab government to make Punjab a corruption-free state, DGP Gaurav Yadav unequivocally said that any police officer/official found indulged in corruption will not be spared. 

Giving more details, SSP Tarn Taran Ranjit Singh Dhillon said the police have also named ASI Rashpal Singh, Nishan Singh and Hira Singh in the FIR and raids are being conducted to nab them.

Meanwhile, Sections 7, 7-A, and 8 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Sections 213, 214, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Sections 29 and 59 of the NDPS act have been added in the FIR, which was initially registered under Sections 18,61,85 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Bhikiwind in Tarn Taran.

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