Punjab DSP booked for bribery in drug case, gives police a slip

An ANTF team on Wednesday raided the Amritsar residence of DSP Vavinder Singh, currently posted with 9th battalion of Punjab Armed Police (PAP), Amritsar, but he continues to be on the run, an official spokesperson of the ANTF said.

An official of the ANTF told The Indian Express that the DSP managed to “flee 20 minutes ahead of the raid as was established through scrutiny of CCTV cameras”.

The First Information Report (FIR) under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and NDPS Act against the DSP was registered at Special Task Force police station, Mohali, on Tuesday.

The Indian Express has learnt that the DSP’s role had come under the scanner following the arrest and interrogation of drug inspector Shishan Mittal by the ANTF last week.

Mittal has been alleged to be facilitating smuggling of narcotic substances and other illegal pharmaceuticals and money laundering.

The ANTF had recovered ₹1.49 crore in cash, 260 gm of gold and 515 Dirhams from Mittal, apart from identifying assets acquired through the proceeds of illegal activities. Mittal’s assets include flats valued at Rs 2 crore in Zirakpur, and Rs 40 lakh-worth plot in Dabwali among many others.

The police last month froze 24 bank accounts — with the total amount reaching Rs 7.09 crore— linked to Mittal following a series of raids conducted at different locations in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, apart from sealing two bank lockers linked to him.

The ANTF spokesperson, while briefing on case against DSP Mahajan, said in a statement on Thursday, “The catalyst for this investigation was FIR No. 31, filed on February 20, 2024, which initially focused on drug-related offenses. However, as the ANTF delved deeper, they uncovered a shocking bribery scheme involving Vavinder Kumar Mahajan, who was a DSP posted at ANTF, and his accomplice, Akhil Jai Singh from Lucknow.”