AAP block president booked ‘for taking Rs 1.50L to strike deal with SHO’ to stop raids

The police, however, have shown a recovery of Rs 1.50 lakh from Gurpreet Singh and co-accused Sukhjinder Singh, as per the FIR.

The case was registered under sections 7(A) PC Act and 61(2) of BNS at Chatiwind police station on September 7.
According to the FIR, complainant Bikramjit Singh stated that on August 30, 2024, SHO Shamsher Singh from Chatiwind police station, along with the police party, conducted a raid early in the morning on the house of his brother, Jaspal Singh, alias Judge, who was wanted in an NDPS case. But Jaspal Singh escaped by jumping over the wall. Afterwards, another raid was conducted on the house of co-accused Jugraj Singh, alias Jago. But police didn’t find him there, the FIR stated.

“In this regard, I along with my uncle, Didar Singh, met with village head Gurnam Singh, residents of Bhagtupura village, and Sukhjinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh. They informed me that my brother Jaspal Singh and Jugraj Singh were wanted in a drug case, and one Mangal Singh, alias Manga, was also involved in selling heroin. Due to their involvement in selling heroin, the police were conducting raids,” Bikramjit Singh told the police.

He said, “Sukhjinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh told me that they know the SHO and can resolve the issue. They assured me that the police would not raid our homes, but in return something would have to be given to the SHO. Sukhjinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh demanded Rs 1.5 lakh from me. I collected Rs 50,000 each from the family of accused Mangal Singh, alias Manga, Jugraj Singh, alias Jago and Jaspal Singh, alias Judge and gave the money to Sukhjinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh for giving it to the SHO. A few days later, the SHO again raided the homes of Jaspal Singh, Mangal Singh, and Jugraj Singh. After this I confronted Sukhjinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh who told me that they had already given Rs 1.5 lakh to the police. But the police were still harassing us and conducting raids on our homes.”

“In this regard, my uncle Didar Singh and I met with SHO Shamsher Singh and asked him why we were still being harassed despite sending the money. The SHO responded that he neither asked for money nor received any. We were shocked to hear this. This made it clear to us that Sukhjinder Singh from Bhagtupura and Gurpreet Singh from Rampura had conspired to defraud us of Rs 1.5 lakh in the name of police. They took the money to defame the police but kept it with themselves. Legal action should be taken against them,” reads the complainant’s statement to the police.

Since the registration of the FIR, the police are tightlipped about the case. According to the FIR, both accused (Sukhjinder Singh and Gurpreet Singh) have been arrested.

MLA Jaswinder Singh, however, claimed that none of them were arrested.

“There is some confusion. A false case has been registered against Gurpreet Singh. He is not such a person. He is very honest. He is neither arrested nor in jail. Soon things will be clear and he too will be in the clear,” said MLA Jaswinder Singh, who held a meeting of party leaders from adjoining villages at the house of Gurpreet Singh on August 31 and posted about it on Facebook.

SP Harinder Singh, Amritsar Rural police, said, “Registration of the case against Gurpreet Singh is in my knowledge. I am not aware if he holds any position in any party. No further investigation has been marked in the case.”