Controversial Shiv Sena leader Mahant Kashmir Giri and his five accomplices were arrested for allegedly running a drug supply racket in Punjab, Khanna Police said on Thursday. Police also recovered 1.15 kg of heroin from the gang. The racket was operated by Lovepreet Singh, an alleged drug peddler already lodged in Ropar jail, police said, adding that Giri was "constantly in touch over phone" with the jailed peddler. Kashmiri Giri, a resident of Ward number 15, Khanna, and a "Rashtriya pracharak" of Shiv Sena Punjab, has been previously booked in at least six FIRs—five in Khanna and one in Delhi. In April 2021, Giri was arrested for allegedly orchestrating an attack on himself to get "security cover." Giri had claimed two bike-borne men had opened fire outside his residence and accused "Khalistani radicals" of the attack. However, Khanna Police arrested Giri for allegedly hiring two men for Rs 1 lakh to carry out the firing. In 2023, Giri, along with his sons Rajan and Shivam, were booked in an alleged cheating and impersonation case at Delhi's Rani Bagh police station for allegedly looting 10 kg of gold from a jeweler's employee. His sons allegedly faked being CGST (tax) inspectors to carry out the heist, police said. Other FIRs against him include charges for attempted murder and weapon offenses. He also runs a self-styled, anti-Khalistan outfit. Khanna Police said that an FIR under the sections 21/61/85 of the NDPS Act was registered at Doraha police station on September 18 for alleged drug peddling, and three accused were held with 1 kg of heroin. They were identified as Gurlal Singh alias Gora, Mohammad Irshad, and Davinder Singh. "During interrogation, it was revealed that the drug supply was being operated by accused Lovepreet Singh alias Lavi of Khadoor Sahib (Tarn Taran district), who is lodged in Ropar Jail. Following this disclosure, Ropar Jail authorities recovered a mobile phone from Lovepreet, and another FIR for possessing a mobile phone inside jail was registered against him at Ropar city police station," said Inspector Akash Dutt, SHO, Doraha police station. Police said that Lovepreet was brought on a production warrant from Ropar Jail and arrested on September 25 in this case. "A technical investigation revealed that from jail, via mobile phone, he was supplying large quantities of heroin to Mahant Kashmir Giri, who then distributed it with his accomplice Dinkar Kalia and others. Both Giri and Kalia were arrested on September 26. Fifty grams of heroin was recovered from Giri, and another 30 grams from Kalia and two others, Vicky and Gulshan," police said. "On further interrogation, it came to light that they had procured heroin from Shubham Kumar alias Bamb of Ludhiana, who was also arrested. From him, 70 gm of heroin and a Swift car were recovered," said police. Lovepreet has been booked in two previous cases for drug peddling registered at Ropar, said Khanna Police. Kalia, a resident of Sundar City Khanna, has been booked in six previous cases registered at Khanna, including three under the Excise Act and one under the NDPS Act. Vicky, a resident of Meat Market Khanna, has been booked in two previous FIRs, including one under the NDPS Act. Shubham Kumar alias Bamb of Haibowal Kalan, Ludhiana, has been booked in five previous FIRs, including two registered at Hoshiarpur and three in Ludhiana, for attempt to murder, drug peddling, and other charges. Gulshan of Khanna has also been booked in two previous FIRs, including one for drug peddling, said police.
