Punjab Police ASI running extortion racket in Batala dismissed from service, arrested
The extortion racket had links to US-based gangster Gurdev Jassal.
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Former Punjab Police ASI Surjit Singh arrested for involvement in extortion racket with US-based gangster Gurdev Jassal. (File Photo)An assistant sub-inspector of the Punjab Police was recently arrested and dismissed from service for running an extortion racket along with his two US-based sons.
Suhail Qasim Mir, Senior Superintendent of Police, Batala, said the arrest led to the dismantling of a major extortion network linked to US-based gangster Gurdev Jassal, and the seizure of more than Rs 70 lakh, illegal firearms, and luxury vehicles.
The arrested former cop, Surjit Singh, reportedly confessed that he received a large sum of money from his son. Following this, a team raided his residence at Harnam Nagar, Batala, and seized Rs 76.32 lakh in cash from a concealed compartment.
“During the technical investigation, the person who had handed over the money was tracked, and eventually one Ankush was arrested who disclosed that the amount he had handed over to the ASI was the money extorted by US-based Gurdev Jassal,” said SSP Mir.
On February 4, associates of Jassal had fired on a petrol pump operated by a Kalanaur-based businessman. After continuous threat calls and a demand of Rs 1 crore, the businessman eventually paid Rs 50 lakh on February 11.
The police said Jassal’s gang used foreign numbers for threats and to coordinate payments, ensuring that the extortion funds were routed through multiple intermediaries.
On February 14, the station house officer of the Sadar Batala police station received intelligence regarding a local police officer’s involvement in handling extortion money. An operation was launched, which ultimately led to the arrest of Singh.
During the investigation of the case, it was established that the two sons of Singh were in touch with Jassal. While Jassal made threat calls to people, the extortion amount was handed over to the former ASI.
Singh had recently bought a brand-new Fortuner and two plots. He has been dismissed from service under Article 311(2) of the Constitution, the SSP said.
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