Punjab’s former DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyay said on Friday that there was “100 per cent evidence” to prove former state minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia’s nexus with “drug traffickers and financial gains”.
“There is strong evidence. There is 100 per cent evidence of his nexus with drug traffickers and financial gains. I came to tell the Vigilance Bureau. A case of NDPS was registered against Majithia on my instructions in 2021. I was the DGP then. He was a former minister and a powerful man. At that time, a lot had happened. This is what I came to tell the vigilance team about. I told them about what we had, the documents…our sources… and all the background we had. I have given them this background. This is the background bridging the gap so that they can do the right investigation,” Chattopadhyay told reporters after meeting Punjab Vigilance Bureau officials in Mohali in connection with their probe into an NDPS case against Majithia during his tenure as the DGP.
“We had evidence. We had very strong evidence during the regime of the 2012-2017 government (SAD-BJP government). But who was in the government at that time? I came to tell them that they had the evidence. A lot of it was eliminated, also. At that time, it was Majithia’s government…Sukhbir Singh Badal’s government. I am not saying Sukhbir Badal is involved, but the Vigilance has the information. This information was not used then,” Chattopadhyay said.
The former DGP reiterated, “We had solid proof then. A lot of money came from abroad. At that time, we needed to establish the links. The links have been established now. There are fake shell companies through which the money has been laundered. The Enforcement Directorate has also established the link. I have given the background to the Vigilance. I told them what the circumstances were at that time. I did not come to record my statement here. Not many people know about the background of the case. I was the DGP and was in a supervisory role. The case (in 2021) was registered on my direction.”
Chattopadhyay said, “In 2021, we again started an investigation. In 2022, I was removed…they are very powerful people. If we have to eliminate drugs, then police alone cannot do it. Everybody has to get together. I told the Vigilance that some evidence was also eliminated. I have 36 years of service. I will continue with the same statement.”
Recounting the background, the former DGP said the high court had constituted an SIT in December 2017. “The SIT submitted three reports. Those reports have details worth reading. Everything is worth knowing in those reports. We have good officers in the police. They have sacrificed their lives for the state, but there are black sheep,” Chattopadhyay said, referring to former AIG Ranjit Singh and Inspector Inderjit Singh, who were dismissed from their services.
Chattopadhyay was appointed the SIT head.
About the SIT reports submitted by him, Chattopadhyay said the reports had instances of extortion, arms, and possession of foreign currency by these police officials. “These three reports have everything in detail. How corrupt officers and personnel were given out-of-turn promotions. In the case of Inspector Inderjit Singh, there were three cases of corruption registered against him. Everybody in the police force works hard. Yet, I have not seen anyone getting four promotions. What was so special about a Constable to appoint him as CIA chief?”
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Asked why no challan was presented before the court in the case, he said, “Our responsibility was to submit a report. Our responsibility was not to produce a challah. How will challah be presented if the report was lying in a sealed envelope in the high court? You ask the high court that.”He said that drugs have ruined Punjab. “There are drug traffickers and syndicates. Punjab cannot progress in this situation. Our youths are going abroad because every family is scared that they may not become addicts.
Chattopadhyay’s claim, SAD leader Arshdeep Singh Kler said, “What is the credibility of the statement of such an IPS officer who was held guilty of chinks in Prime Minister’s security. Not only that, he also faces several serious accusations. The family of Inderpreet Chadha from Amritsar had also levelled accusations against him after Chadha’s suicide. Some women have also levelled allegations. He is also accused of providing security to proclaimed offenders and rape convicts.
