Call to make Kurnool a drug-free district
Kurnool: In observance of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, district Collector P Ranjith Basha called for united efforts to transform the district into a drug-free zone. Speaking at a programme at the district Collectorate on Thursday, he underscored the devastating impact of drug abuse on youth and society. He stressed the importance of awareness campaigns, community participation, and strict surveillance measures. He also urged parents to encourage children to engage in sports and cultural activities as a means of keeping them away from harmful influences.
The Collector detailed government initiatives aimed at curbing drug abuse, such as inter-departmental coordination meetings, awareness drives in schools and colleges, rehabilitation services, and a toll-free number (1972) for confidential reporting of drug-related activities. He called upon citizens to play an active role in reporting drug supply or consumption in their communities.
MP B Nagaraju reiterated the government's goal of achieving 'Ganja-free Andhra Pradesh', highlighting the use of drone and satellite surveillance to detect and eliminate cannabis cultivation. DIG Koya Praveen provided historical context on drug cultivation in the region and credited the current administration for its strict crackdown on such practices.
MLA Gouru Charitha observed that drug usage had spread into rural areas but noted that the government's proactive measures, including special committees and dedicated officers, had led to a significant decline in cannabis growth. SP Vikrant Patil warned of severe legal consequences under NDPS Act, while also highlighting the importance of rehabilitation for addicts. Mayor BY Ramayya urged parents to monitor their children's behavior and financial habits. An anti-drug awareness rally was held from Raj Vihar Center to the Collectorate.
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India Gazette
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"Drug mafias are roaming freely": BJP's Tarun Chugh slams AAP over drug problem in Punjab
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Tarun Chugh on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, alleging that drug mafias are operating freely in the state while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is preoccupied with the hospitality of party convenor Arvind Kejriwal. While speaking to ANI, Tarun Chugh said, 'AAP's governance is primarily for headlines, not for public interest. Drug mafias are roaming freely, and the CM, Bhagwant Mann, is only engaged in the hospitality of Arvind Kejriwal.' He further alleged that the governance failure in Punjab over the last several years has allowed crime and drug-related activities to flourish. 'AAP and Congress have been in power in Punjab for the last 8.5 years... The state has been thrown into the fire of crime and anarchy,' he added. Reiterating the BJP's position on the issue, Chugh added, 'BJP stands strong against drug dealers. No dealer should be spared.' His remarks come amid the arrest of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who was sent to seven days of police custody by a Mohali court on Thursday in connection with a money laundering case linked to drugs. He is scheduled to be produced before the court again on July 2. Meanwhile, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, asserted that the Punjab government is tackling the drug menace at its root. In a post on X, on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Kejriwal wrote, 'Today is the International Day Against Drug Abuse. In Punjab, the AAP government is not just talking - we are taking strong action to make the state drug-free. We're fighting the problem at its root to protect our youth and their future. Let's salute every honest officer, volunteer, and citizen who stands with us in this real battle.' Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also emphasised that their war against drugs has now transformed into a mass movement. 'The campaign we launched from Punjab to eradicate drugs, 'War Against Drugs', has now transformed into a mass movement. Those who ruin families and use the ill-got gains of this sin to build palaces and host lavish parties will not be spared,' CM Mann said while speaking to the media. 'We have improved law and order in Punjab and provided people with a safe environment. By taking the strictest action against drug traffickers, we have forced them to flee Punjab,' he said. (ANI)
Indian Express
3 hours ago
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Laundering of Rs 540 crore of ‘drug money': Majithia's conduct was doubtful, says former ED deputy director
Former deputy director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Niranjan Singh, who probed the alleged money laundering charges against former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia and also recorded his statement in connection with the Jagdish Bhola drug-racket case before being transferred, on Saturday said the conduct of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader in the entire case was 'doubtful.' This came a day after former Punjab director general of police (DGP) Siddharth Chattopadhyaya met a Vigilance Bureau team on Friday and shared his 'experience and knowledge' with its members regarding the drugs case registered against the former Akali minister in 2021. Singh, who appeared before the Vigilance Bureau in connection with their investigation into the alleged money laundering case against Majithia, said he had recorded his 'verbal statement' with the Bureau. 'Being with ED, I started the investigation in the case in 2013, and it went on till 2017. I was not able to complete that because I was transferred and promoted. I cannot reveal everything to the media as the investigation is pending. We gather a lot of evidence in financial investigations. I can just add that there is a doubtful conduct,' he said, referring to Majithia. The bureau on June 25 arrested Majithia in the case allegedly involving the laundering of Rs 540 crore of 'drug money'. The former Punjab minister was sent to a seven-day custody by a Mohali court on June 26. He also accused Majithia of getting him transferred out of Jalandhar when he was in the midst of the investigation. 'What the Punjab government is saying about linking drug money with disproportionate assets case, I have no link with that. There is no evidence of this link at this juncture. The investigation was delayed. The credit for the delayed investigation goes to Majithia. He got it done. I am saying this on record. I was transferred several times,' Singh said. 'The ED has a clear mandate: if an FIR is lodged under the NDPS Act case and recovery is made, then the agency enters into it and takes details about how crime money was generated, laundered and investigated. There were 102 accused, and they were investigated. I was not able to complete it. I had the support of the department for many years. When I summoned Majithia in 2014, I was transferred to Kolkata. The HC later cancelled this transfer. There was non-cooperation by the department after that, and some steps were taken by the authorities which do not go in favour of the investigation.' 'I told them that now I am retired. I have no documents. They can get copies of those documents from the ED. I will come and certify those,' Singh said. Recalling the case, he said, 'The initiation of investigation was done as a case of drugs. I investigated for the ED and submitted the status report to the high court. The HC examined the report and gave it to the STF. The STF examined it and gave its observation to the HC. The court then directed the Punjab government to take action, but the government did not take action.' He said the 2021 FIR was based on the status report filed by him and the STF. 'Now, the Vigilance is investigating the money laundering. Because the initiation of the investigation was done by me, they wanted me to come and help them. I can say the documents in both cases are the same. It is the same story and the same facts. The money laundering is linked. They have to do the investigation now,' Singh said. 'When we started the investigation, drug kingpin Jagdish Bhola's statement was recorded. Majithia's name is mentioned in his statement. Later, I investigated Bittu Aulakh. He, too, wrote his name. Bhola has been convicted. I got 17 accused convicted, and their illegal property was attached and confiscated. This case has the same ground. The guilty are behind bars,' Singh said. He said, 'The matter is still under investigation. Whatever is in the court and public domain, I can tell. Some people in contact with him were in Canada. We sought an investigation report about them from the Canadian government. The government never sent it to us. They were Satpreet Satta, Amrinder Singh Laddi, Parminder Singh Pindi and many others.' 'I have recorded statements in which his name figures. I have submitted the report to the court. Based on those statements only, 17 persons were convicted. That means the court agreed with my statements and evidence,' he said. He said, 'The challan was to be presented by the SIT, but they did not. I can only help whenever an agency seeks my help.' He said that the Vigilance had never contacted him earlier. 'I have given a verbal statement. The police have to record it. I gave the details of the Bhola drug case and what came into the investigations about Majithia. I had submitted the statements of Bhola and Aulakh in the trial court. The contents of their statement were required by the VB. I have told them about it.' 'I am neither in favour nor against anyone. I am only responsible for the investigation I have done. There is no politics as far as my investigation is concerned. There are many statements, there are revelations, and the accused has named him. Since the investigation is pending, it is not fair to say anything. The investigation is going on, and is live and in progress. It has not been closed,' he added.
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3 hours ago
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SAD chief Sukhbir dares Punjab CM Mann to prove foreign funding in Saraya Industries in which Majithia has shares
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