Alleges ₹250 crore survey was aimed at understanding drug trade

Calls for investigation into alleged links involving Harry and Constable Karam Singh

Chandigarh, 26 October (H.S.): Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Monday challenged the Punjab government to make public its statewide drug survey report, alleging that the exercise was being used to understand the illicit drug trade as a business model rather than tackle the state’s drug problem.

Addressing a press conference, Jakhar claimed that ₹250 crore had been spent and 28,000 employees deployed to survey 65 lakh families, yet the report remained undisclosed. He alleged that the plan was driven by AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, and accused the government of seeking control over the drug supply chain.

Jakhar questioned why the survey was necessary when the Chief Minister could have visited villages and heard residents’ concerns directly. He alleged that the exercise was intended to map the movement of drugs from procurement to distribution and sale.

Referring to the DGP’s reported statement that pharmaceutical drugs accounted for 80 per cent of substance abuse, Jakhar alleged that the government was attempting to control the pharmaceutical drug supply chain. He also raised questions about a drug inspector who, he claimed, had faced corruption allegations before being reinstated and appointed Drug Controller.

Jakhar cited the seizure of four kilograms of heroin by Nathana police in 2023 and alleged that an accused known as Harry, then lodged in Ferozepur jail, was linked to the case. He claimed that Harry, who had been sentenced to 20 years in an Abohar murder case and faced other cases, was granted parole in 2024 and subsequently fled to Dubai. Jakhar further alleged that Harry continued to operate drug trafficking and extortion networks.

He also referred to constable Karam Singh, associated with the ‘Baaz’ anti-drone system, claiming that 25 kilograms of heroin had been recovered from him and that he had admitted to arranging another 24 consignments. Jakhar questioned whether senior officials were involved.

The BJP leader alleged that drug and weapons networks were operating across Punjab, including through drone routes, and criticised the Chief Minister for not visiting Mansa to meet the family of Parvinder Singh, known as ‘Jhota’.

Jakhar urged the CBI to expand its investigation into the Jhota case to the Drug Controller’s office in Chandigarh. He said he would also write to the Union Home Minister seeking a CBI probe into the cases involving Harry and Karam Singh, while calling for the NIA to investigate alleged international drug and weapons trafficking links.

Jakhar further accused the Bhagwant Mann government of losing public trust and expressed hope that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would expose the alleged drug network. The allegations made by Jakhar were not independently verified.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH