Actor in anti-drug STF report denies wrongdoing

The anti-drug Special Task Force had arrested four persons, including Gurdeep singh, a former sarpanch of village Rano in Ludhiana, and had recovered 5.39 kg heroin along with Rs 21 lakh ‘drug money’ in November 2020.

Gurdeep Singh (Second from the right)

Punjabi actor Hobby Dhaliwal, whose name figures in a report by Punjab Police’s Special Task Force, has admitted that an IPS officer, facing serious allegations, had first met drug smuggler Gurdeep Singh in his knowledge around 15 years ago.

The anti-drug Special Task Force had arrested four persons, including Gurdeep singh, a former sarpanch of village Rano in Ludhiana, and had recovered 5.39 kg heroin along with Rs 21 lakh ‘drug money’ in November 2020.

The Indian Express reported Monday that the STF is awaiting further action from the offices of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta and chief principal secretary against police officials, politicians and civilians whose names figure in the report.

Dhaliwal, however, declined the allegations of land grabbing and any association with drug smuggling racket that was being run by Gurdeep Singh.

STF report claims that Dhaliwal introduced Gurdeep Singh with the IPS officer, who was then posted in Ludhiana range. The IPS officer attended, as a chief guest, a Kabbadi tournament organized by Gurdeep Singh. Also, Gurdeep Singh would attend the Kabbadi cup organised by the IPS officer. The drug smuggler used to bear the expenses as asked by IPS officer for such functions.

“It is true that the IPS officer met Gurdeep Singh in my presence during a Kabbadi tournament around 15 years back. I was friends with both. We three met during a function a couple of months before Gurdeep Singh was arrested. Pictures of that meeting are in public domain. But I was never aware about any drug smuggling racket being run by Gurdeeep Singh. In fact, he cheated me in a land deal,” said Dhaliwal.

STF report accuses Dhaliwal for grabbing a land along with Gurdeep Singh and the IPS officer in Ludhiana.

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The report says, “Gurdeep Singh took possession of four Kanal land on the backside of Appolo hospital in Ludhiana along with movies’ artist and Hardeep Singh Deepa. IPS had then made a phone call to a concerned police officer in Ludhiana and no one came to stop them and they constructed wall over four kanal land. They still have possession of the land.”

On the allegations, Dhaliwal said, “Gurdeep Singh tried to sell me a piece of land near the Appolo hospital. He had shown me the plot and told me that it was available at low price. I paid him Rs 6 lakh. Later I came to know that Gurdeep had given me fake papers of the plot. He cheated me. I later asked him to returned my money., which he did. Everything is on record.”

“I was interrogated by STF for eight hours. I provided them the evidence of transactions. I was not involved in any land grabbing attempt. I visited plot only once. It was never in my possession. STF didn’t summon me again,” claims Dhaliwal.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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