Categories: India

NRIs in multi-crore drug case can’t be extradited as Punjab cops hold back key info from Canada

<p>
The Punjab police has been inordinately delaying the extradition proceedings against 9 Canada-based Punjabis involved in the notorious multi-crore DSP Jagdish Bhola drug case, who are wanted since 2013. </p>
<p>
The Canadian Department of Justice (DOJ) has not been able to proceed against these 9 accused as the information provided by the Punjab police was insufficient and did not fulfil the conditions of extradition.</p>
<p>
Police found that these NRIs namely, Amarjit Singh Kooner, Gursevak Singh Dhillon, Nirankar Singh Dhillon, Sarbjit Sander, Lehmber Singh Daleh, Amrinder Singh Chheena, Pardeep Singh Dhaliwal, Ranjit Singh Aujla, and Ranjit Kaur Kahlon were closely connected to the main accused Jagdish Bhola. They were suspected to be conduits and carriers in the illegal trade helping supply drugs to the West.</p>
<p>
Some of these accused also reportedly stayed at the residence of a senior Akali politician during their trips to India. Cases have been registered against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) in various police stations.</p>
<p>
The Canadian DOJ, since 2016, is seeking revised extradition requests along with additional information but the matter has been pending with the Punjab police since then, which is delaying the extradition process of the accused.</p>
<p>
A status report in this regard was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently by Sandeep Kumar, deputy secretary (extradition), Union Ministry of External Affair (MEA) giving a date-wise account of when the High Commission of India in Ottawa wrote to the Canadian authorities.</p>
<p>
Advocate Navkiran Singh, who appears in the court as an intervenor on behalf of Lawyers for Human Right International says, investigations in the Bhola drug case could have led to wider revelations had the police succeeded in getting these 9 accused extradited.</p>
<p>
"The full truth, in this case, remains buried as the Punjab police are taking no interest to get the accused extradited," says Navkiran Singh adding, let the police recall back their extradition requests if they think no purpose will be served by interrogating these NRIs.</p>
<p>
Efforts to elicit a response from DGP Gaurav Yadav on the issue proved futile. A questionnaire on the subject sent to DGP Special Task Force, Harpreet Singh Sidhu, who is tasked to fight the drug menace in Punjab, went unanswered.</p>

Rajinder S Taggar

Guest writer

Recent Posts

VINBAX 2024: Vietnam-India bilateral army exercise concludes at Kaushalya Dam

The fifth edition of the historic Indo-Vietnam Joint Field Training Exercise, VINBAX-2024, successfully concluded its…

15 hours ago

India-Russia strengthen defence ties at 22nd Working Group meeting on military technical cooperation

The 22nd meeting of the India-Russia Working Group on Military technical cooperation and defence industry…

15 hours ago

“I want to have strong representation of India at World Nuclear Exhibition 2025”: Sylvie Bermann

Sylvie Bermann, President of the World Nuclear Exhibition expressed confidence in India's nuclear supply chain…

16 hours ago

PoJK: Joint Awami Action Committee protests against government following new ordinance, many injured

Joint Awami Action Committee core member Shaukat Nawaz Mir has condemned the attack of police…

17 hours ago

PM Modi meets 31 world leaders, heads of organisations during his 3-nation foreign visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in 31 Bilateral Meetings and informal interactions with global leaders…

19 hours ago

India- Australia conduct 11th Indian Air Force-Royal Australian Air Force Air Staff Talks

India and Australia conducted the 11th edition of the Indian Air Force and Royal Australian…

19 hours ago