Jalandhar MLA who joined BJP has nine cases against him

Angural had been in the midst of controversies in the past. He had cases of gambling, kidnapping and wrongfully confining a minor. He was also booked under the Excise Act, Arms Act, IT Act for nudity in different FIRs in different police stations at Jalandhar and Dera Bassi. In his affidavit filed to the Election Commission before the 2022 Assembly elections, Angural had mentioned there were at least nine FIRs against him. These were under Section 420 of the IPC and under the Arms Act too.

Talking about the latest controversy, Angural told The Indian Express that Mani Thakur was known to him. “He had joined AAP. He had helped in my election campaign also in 2022 Assembly elections. But he went abroad 10 months ago. Now I do not know what he was doing after moving abroad. That is not my responsibility.”

The MLA said that Thakur did not help him only but also an AAP minister and an Akali leader. “I will release those pictures also to the media. Let us see what action the police will take against the minister. Let there be a fair probe to see what happens,” he added.

Angural threatened legal action against those who were levelling allegations against him. He said that a few people were trying to raise the issue of FIRs registered against him. But he was acquitted in most of the FIRs. Only two FIRs were still pending. “Those are under section 188 IPC for sitting on dharnas. I have full faith in the judiciary. I will get justice,” he said.

He was booked in 2020 along with others for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting a 15-year-old boy. He was acquitted in the kidnapping case in January this year. In December last year, he was acquitted in a gambling case.

In a case registered at Dera Bassi police station, he was booked under Section 438 of the IPC for committing or attempting to commit a mischief by fire or any explosive substance, Section 336 and 188 IPC for committing an act that endangers life. He was also booked under Section 67 of the IT Act.

Regarding Angural’s latest controversy about Thakur, the Commissionerate of Police in Jalandhar had busted an international drug trafficking syndicate involved in the illicit trade of narcotics across four countries using courier services on March 4. The operation led to the arrest of three persons — Aman, Sunny and Shejal — and the seizure of 5 kg opium.

The racket had used international courier companies for the last three years and sent nearly two quintals of opium abroad.

Jalandhar police Commissioner Swapan Sharma was on record to say that Manish, alias Mani Thakur, of Jalandhar was the kingpin of this cartel and was based in
the UK. Investigations revealed that opium was being sourced from Jharkhand and routed through courier operators in Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar before sending abroad.