Daba ASI, cousin, associate held with 350kg poppy husk

Ludhiana: The Special Task Force (STF) arrested an assistant sub-inspector posted at Daba police station, his cousin and accomplice for drug peddling on Friday morning.
The three were nabbed with 350kg poppy husk near Dyalpur village of Samrala. They were returning from Madhya Pradesh with the contraband, worth Rs 1.75 lakh, when the police intercepted them. The accused cop was in uniform and tried to influence the STF team, saying there was nothing illegal in his SUV.
The arrested have been identified as ASI Rajinderpal Singh, 53, his cousin Daljeet Kaur Babli, 46, of Gautam Vihar, Haibowal, and driver Pawanjit Singh, 35, of Manjit Nagar. The police have also seized the SUV, which has a Delhi registration number.
STF AIG Snehdeep Sharma said, “ASI Rajinderpal’s cousin Daljeet has been into drug peddling for over 10 years. She has completed her sentence in one case and is facing trials in other cases. She works as a labourer in a hosiery factory. The ASI joined her in the drug trade about one-and-a-half years ago to make easy money. He used to charge Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh per consignment from her. At times, he too would sell poppy husk to addicts.”
“On Friday, when the STF stopped the SUV at the checkpost near Dyalpur village, ASI Rajinderpal, who was in police uniform, told the officials that it was his own vehicle and there was nothing illegal in it. During checking, the STF recovered 350kg poppy husk from a sack hidden in the vehicle. During questioning, the accused confessed that they had smuggled in the contraband from Madhya Pradesh,” he added.
Ludhiana STF in-charge inspector Harbans Singh said, “The ASI never took official leaves from duty to accompany the accused for procuring drugs. He would mark attendance in the morning and leave without informing his seniors. At times, he would work double shifts and take off the next day unofficially, citing urgent work in family. The STF has written to commissioner of police Rakesh Agarwal, informing him about the arrest of the ASI and his pattern of remaining absent from duty. We will also question the Daba police station SHO about it.”
Daljeet has bought three to four vehicles and some properties with the drug money. Her properties would be attached. The STF would also investigate the properties of the ASI, the inspector added.
A case has been registered.
ASI suspended
Later in the day, the commissioner of police suspended ASI Rajinderpal Singh