Former AIG Rachhpal Arrested in 2019 Case: STF Jalandhar Conducts Operation in Amritsar; Three-Day Remand Obtained

Former AIG Rachhpal Arrested in 2019 Case: STF Jalandhar Conducts Operation in Amritsar; Three-Day Remand Obtained

Former AIG of Punjab’s Special Task Force (STF), Rachhpal Singh, has been arrested. The action was carried out by STF Jalandhar, and he is currently lodged in Civil Lines, Amritsar. Police have presented him before the court and obtained a three-day remand. The case traces back to 2019.

Police Statement

According to a police statement, FIR No. 34 dated 11-02-2019 under Sections 21, 29, and 58 of the NDPS Act, registered at Civil Lines Police Station, Amritsar, was being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with illegal drug trafficking. Four accused had already been arrested in this case earlier. Now, the remaining accused, AIG (Retd.) Rachhpal Singh, has been arrested by the SIT of the Narcotics Task Force, Jalandhar Range.

Previously Involved in Controversy

This is not the first time Rachhpal Singh has faced action. Earlier, on August 3, 2017, a man named Balwinder Singh was allegedly picked up by STF Amritsar Police from Civil Hospital Patti. Later, a heroin case was registered against him, with 1 kg of heroin planted on him. He was also accused of smuggling heroin from Pakistan, and three more names were added as co-accused.

Following this, Balwinder appealed to the High Court for an independent investigation.

Supplementary Chargesheet Filed Against Balwinder

In its report, the STF claimed that another heroin consignment was buried in the fields of an accused named Bhaur Singh. Upon searching, the police recovered 4.530 kg heroin, one pistol, three magazines, and 56 cartridges from the spot.

The police then filed a chargesheet in Amritsar Court against Balwinder Singh, Major Singh, and Bhaur Singh, and later filed a supplementary chargesheet against Balwinder Singh. Interestingly, Gurjant Singh’s name was not mentioned in it.

Suspicion Over Call Details and CCTV Footage

Balwinder Singh approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which, in November 2019, directed DGP (Director Bureau of Investigation) Pramod Ban to conduct a probe.

During the investigation, call details, CCTV footage, and location data were submitted to the High Court in December 2020. These records raised several doubts, and in January 2021, the High Court handed over the case to the CBI.

1 Kg Heroin Shown in Balwinder’s Name

Investigation later revealed that 1 kg of heroin was actually recovered from a person named Gurjant Singh alias Sonu. However, the entire recovery was falsely shown in Balwinder Singh’s name, while Gurjant Singh was released.

The police were found to have fabricated a false story to frame Balwinder Singh.