Latest news with #SAD
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Have proof': Punjab ex-DGP Chattopadhyaya meets vigilance team probing DA case against SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia
Chandigarh: Former Punjab director general of police (DGP) Sidharth Chattopadhyaya said on Friday there was evidence showing that SAD leader was working in "connivance" with drug smugglers and making "financial gain". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The former officer, who had come to meet the vigilance bureau (VB) team which is probing the latest case against the SAD leader, said there was "much evidence" against Majithia in 2012 itself. "In 2012, it was Bikram Majithia and Sukhbir Badal's govt. I am not saying that Sukhbir was involved. I am talking about political interference. Why it was hushed up then, will you ask them?" Chattopadhyaya said in reply to a query. Chattopadhyaya, who ordered the registration of an FIR against Majithia in Dec 2021 when he officiated as Punjab DGP for less than a month, met officials of the VB, which has registered a disproportionate assets (DA) case, and members of a special investigation team (SIT), which is probing a previous FIR registered against Majithia in 2021 under the NDPS Act. Chattopadhyaya apprised the serving officers of what led to the registration of the 2021 FIR and "facts" that emerged at the time. The latest DA case — in which Majithia was booked on Wednesday and arrested from his Amritsar home the same day — has been registered based on investigations by the SIT probing the 2021 FIR against Majithia. He had been granted bail in the drugs case. "Hundred percent. Hundred percent. There is proof, and it will come in front of you," Chattopadhyaya told reporters in Chandigarh when asked if any "direct link" came out in his probe between Majithia and drug smugglers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He added evidence pertained to Majithia's connivance with drug smugglers and "financial gain". Chattopadhyaya said he informed the two teams about documents that he had got and the entire background of the case. "...so that they (VB & SIT) do their investigations in the right manner and present their side in court in the right manner," said the former DGP. "I want to tell you that neither I was questioned nor I got my statements recorded." A senior VB officer said they had requested Chattopadhyaya to "come and brief (them) about the background of the case, money trail, and other details". The officer said information provided by Chattopadhyaya would be brought on record. Asked if there was any attempt to destroy evidence, Chattopadhyaya answered in the affirmative. "I told [the VB & SIT] which all evidences were destroyed. I told everything," he said. EX-OFFICER SLAMS 'BLACK SHEEP' 'Wrongdoings of on-the-run AIG' Former DGP Sidharth Chattopadhyaya also spoke about the Punjab and Haryana high court-constituted SIT in Dec 2017 to probe the nexus between drug traffickers and enforcement agencies. He said the SIT headed by him gave three reports detailing at length the misuse of the NDPS Act, extortions, and the money trail of ill-gotten wealth by some of "the black sheep" who brought a bad name to Punjab Police. Chattopadhyaya said reports detailed the wrongdoings involving dismissed and on-the-run AIG Rajjit Singh and properties allegedly amassed by him from the drug money 'Sacked inspector got 4 promotions' Chattopadhyaya said dismissed and jailed inspector Inderjit Singh, who was not even a regular howildar but made CIA inspector, was given four promotions despite the fact that he faced 15 departmental inquiries and had four cases, three of them of corruption, registered against him. The former DGP said the reports mentioned in detail the recovery of drugs, illegal weapons, foreign currency, and many more things and how rules were given a go-by to give promotions to such officials. The reports, he said, highlighted how instead of doing their duty, such police officers "mercilessly committed crimes". SAD hits back: Court asked for proof for 4 years Hitting back, Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler, in a video message, questioned former DGP Sidharth Chattopadhyaya's "credibility". "What is the credibility of an IPS officer who placed the security of the Prime Minister at stake? This is not the only matter where the PM's security was put at stake; there are other serious allegations against him," Kler said. "For your information, the false case against Majithia in 2021, under Congress govt, was registered under your (Chattopadhyaya) signatures when you were a one-month DGP. The high court has been asking for evidence for four years, but you could not give evidence there. The case went up to the Supreme Court, and you could not give evidence there. This means the case in which you are investigating officer when you were DGP in 2021, the challan could not be presented in that case. Now, in the DA case, he is saying he is becoming a witness," said Kler. VB calls ex-ED officer Niranjan Singh too for help Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) has called Enforcement Directorate retired deputy director Niranjan Singh to assist with information in connection with the DA case registered against Majithia. An ED status report in the Punjab and Haryana high court by Niranjan Singh had eventually formed the basis of registration of the drugs case against Majithia in 2021. The VB has called Niranjan Singh to come and assist with information on Saturday at its office in Mohali at 12:30 pm.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Akal Takht committee meets Amritpal Singh's father to seek support for Panthic unity and revive Shiromani Akali Dal
1 2 Amritsar: In a move that could reshape the trajectory of Punjab's panthic politics, a committee formed by the Akal Takht to revive the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has reached out to Bapu Tarsem Singh, the father of jailed MP Amritpal Singh , in a bid to unite Sikh political voices under a common platform. The five-member panel met Tarsem Singh and his associates at their home in Jallupur Khera village, marking a significant outreach beyond the party's traditional base. Sources said the discussions centred on building a broader alliance of panthic groups and rejuvenating the SAD, whose influence has waned in recent years, among Sikh youth particularly. Even though no formal role for Amritpal Singh was disclosed, his symbolic presence loomed large over the meeting. Gurpartap Singh Wadala, a member of the committee, acknowledged Amritpal's growing appeal. "Even behind bars, he commands deep respect from Sikh youth and rural voters. His sweeping electoral win was more than personal — it was a call for principled, value-driven leadership," he said. Constituted on Dec 2, 2024, the panel had seven members originally but now includes Bibi Satwant Kaur, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpuri, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, and Iqbal Singh Jhunda. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Iraq: New Small Electric Car For Seniors. Prices Might Surprise You. Electric Cars | Search Ads Undo In a joint statement after the meeting, the committee accused the SAD's past leadership of losing sight of its founding goals. "The party was hijacked by individuals focused on power solely, neglecting core issues like Chandigarh's status, river water disputes, and Punjabi language rights," the statement read. Tarsem Singh welcomed the outreach and said the time had come to "pull the Panth out of crisis" by consolidating panthic sentiment. Sources close to the group said aligning with Amritpal's anti-drug stance and uncompromising image was part of a broader effort to restore political credibility among Sikh voters. MSID:: 122112093 413 |
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Former SAD leader Talwandi's PA brutally hacked to death in Ludhiana
Jun 28, 2025 12:19 PM IST In a shocking incident caught on camera, a Ludhiana-based elderly businessman, Kuldeep Singh Mundia, was hacked to death on the busy Dhandra Road near the Missing Link 2 Highway in the city on Friday night. An elderly businessman, Kuldeep Singh Mundia, was hacked to death on the busy Dhandra Road near the Missing Link 2 Highway in Ludhiana on Friday night. (Representational photo) The incident, which was captured on video by a passerby and later circulated on social media, shows a man using a sword to hit Mundia multiple times. The reason behind the incident is not yet known. 'Police are conducting raids in search of the accused. They will be arrested soon,' Sadar police station house officer Avneet Kaur said. Mundia was a personal assistant of the late Jagdev Singh Talwandi, a former member of Parliament from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He was travelling in his car from his farmhouse when a group of men in a Maruti Swift car began following him. They intercepted his vehicle on the highway and forcibly pulled him out and started assaulting him. Despite Mundia's repeated cries for help, no one intervened. Eyewitnesses said the elderly man was screaming in pain, but one of the men kept hitting him mercilessly with a sword. Police reached the spot soon after the incident and started investigation.
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Anju Chander of AAP is Kharar MC president
Six weeks after 18 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors, along with local MLAs Anmol Gagan Maan and Dr Charanjeet Singh, ousted Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Jaspreet Kaur Longia through a no-confidence motion, the Kharar municipal council on Friday unanimously elected Anju Chander, 54, of AAP as the new president. This will be Anju Chander's second term as she had previously served on the post from 2015 to 2020 when she was with the SAD. (HT File) This will be Chander's second term as she had previously served on the post from 2015 to 2020 when she was with the SAD. During Friday's polling, she secured 26 out of 27 votes in the House, including that of Kharar MLA Maan. Two councillors—Jaspreet Kaur Longia (SAD) and Neelam (Congress)—were conspicuous by their absence during the elections. An educationist by profession, Chander runs APJ School, a CBSE-affiliated intermediate school in Kharar. Expressing gratitude, she said, 'I sincerely thank all municipal councillors and the people of Kharar for supporting me. I am committed to accelerating the town's development and will work wholeheartedly for its betterment.' MLA Maan termed the unanimous decision a proud moment for the city. 'It is heartening that both the MLA and the MC president of Kharar are now from AAP. With united efforts, we will drive rapid development in the city,' she said. The 27-member council currently consists of 17 AAP councillors, four from SAD, three from Congress, and three Independents. How AAP gained majority in House The council elections, held on February 17, 2021, had resulted in a hung house, with the Congress securing 10 seats, SAD eight, AAP one, and Independents eight. SAD, with the support of Independent councillors, had managed to install Longia as president—until AAP's majority reshaped the power dynamics. The political realignment began on September 23, 2022, when eight Congress councillors, six Independents, and one SAD councillor joined AAP, giving the party a clear majority of 18 councillors. On May 5, 18 councillors submitted a written request to the executive officer (EO) to convene a special meeting and introduce a no-confidence motion against then-president Longia. The motion was passed during the May 16 meeting, ending her term. The Kharar municipal council also has representation from two MLAs—Anmol Gagan Maan (Kharar) and Dr Charanjeet Singh (Chamkaur Sahib).
India Gazette
11 hours ago
- India Gazette
'Irrefutable' evidence available against SAD leader Majithia in drugs case: Former Punjab DGP Chattopadhyaya
ANI 28 Jun 2025, 05:01 GMT+10 Chandigarh [India], June 28 (ANI): Former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Siddharth Chattopadhyaya on Friday said that irrefutable evidence is present against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia linking him to drug traffickers. Chattopadhyaya alleged that crucial evidence against Majithia has existed since 2012. The SAD leader is currently facing an investigation into the drug case. 'These are young and new officers who have shown the courage to work. I had gone there to guide them that the evidence has been in the file since 2012. So, use it and present it before the court. This is irrefutable and on-record evidence, legally acceptable in court as evidence. But with his influence, he had suppressed it,' former DGP told ANI. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia 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 will be produced before the court again on July 2. Speaking to ANI, the Public Prosecutor Advocate Ferry Sofat said, 'Bikram Singh Majithia's income of Rs 540 crore remains undisclosed, and he could not mention any details about it...'He informed the court that there were large and unexplained cash deposits made by Saraya Industries, a company operated by Majithia's family since the 1950s.' The court was also informed that Majithia had allegedly threatened the investigating officers during his arrest, and the incident was captured on video. (ANI)
