Ram Singh expelled,cops to quiz Vijender

Meanwhile,the National Institute of Sports (NIS),Patiala,today expelled Vijender’s sparring partner Ram Singh from its training camp.

“We have got orders to expel Ram Singh from Monday. He was the 51st member of the boxing camp and we had given him special permission on the recommendation of Vijender Singh. Now,after he has admitted to taking drugs,we have taken the decision after consulting higher officials and coaches. We will also conduct a check of the  premises,” said NIS director L S Ranawat. He added that the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is expected to conduct dope tests at NIS.

The action came a day after Ram Singh,a former national champion in the super heavyweight category,admitted on Saturday that he and Vijender had tried heroin for “fun” three or four times. Changing his statement today,Ram Singh,who was questioned by the Punjab Police for the third day,said he and Vijender mistook heroin for a food supplement and consumed it.

He,however,added that he had consumed the food supplement by “inhaling it”. He even warned other sportspersons not to make a similar “mistake”.

Rubbishing Ram Singh’s claim,Ranawat said: “We have given them a list of 45 food supplements which they can procure on their own and seek reimbursement. In the end,athletes decide what additional supplements they can take. We have no role in the additional supplements which they get,” he said.

“We have full faith in the investigation and whatever happened is unfortunate. Ram Singh did admit to taking drugs and the officials took the decision (on the expulsion) in the interest of the other athletes,” said national coach Gurbax Singh Sandu.

The police had earlier sent Ram Singh’s hair,blood and urine samples to the Civil Hospital,Fatehgarh Sahib,to check for drug use. While sources said the reports have come in,their contents were not disclosed.

Kahlon,Vijender and Ram Singh are likely to be brought face to face during Vijender’s questioning,added sources.

Yesterday,the police had found that Vijender was in regular touch with Kahlon on the phone. As many as 12 calls were exchanged between Vijender and Kahlon and over 50 calls were exchanged between Kahlon and Ram Singh in the past one month.

Sources said Vijender was also a regular visitor at Kahlon’s house in Zirakpur,from where Rs 130 crore worth of contraband was recovered. The boxer’s car registered in his wife’s name was found parked near the house of the alleged drug smuggler when the arrest was made.

Vijender has vehemently denied any links with Kahlon. He has claimed that he had lent his car to Ram Singh before going to Mumbai. Vijender could not be contacted today for his comments as his cellphone was switched off.

In a related development,the police today arrested another person,Sunil Katyal,from Ludhiana. SSP Hardayal Singh Mann said Katyal,who worked in a factory in Ludhiana,tested the samples of chemicals sent to him by Manpreet Singh,alias Mani,a co-accused in the case. Mani and his accomplice Gabbar Singh were arrested by the police on Friday.

Katyal reportedly told the police that he had met Mani and Gabbar two years ago and was testing drug samples for them.

The police also conducted raids at various places in Mohali,Phagwara and Fatehgarh Sahib to nab Jagdish Bhola,the alleged kingpin of the international drug trade racket. Two persons were detained in this connection.

— With inputs from Nitin Sharma