Former Akali Minister’s Son Questioned In Drug Racket
JALANDHAR – Four months after Damanvir Singh, son of former Punjab Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur, was first summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the synthetic drugs case, he appeared before the ED. He was reportedly questioned for more than seven hours. He reached the ED office at 9.45.
His questioning, that began at 10 am, went on till 5.30 pm. Sources said the questioning primarily pertained to the disclosures by druglord Jagdish Bhola. The latter is behind bars in the Rs 6000-crore synthetic drug racket.
On May 22, Akali minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur had resigned from the Cabinet “on moral grounds” following reports of the alleged involvement of his son in the Rs 6,000-crore drug racket.
As he came out of the ED office, Damanvir said: “I have answered all queries.” Despite several attempts, the ED authorities refused to give any details.
Bhola has reportedly told the police that Damanvir introduced Varinder Raja, a Delhi-based synthetic drug supplier (now lodged in the Patiala jail) to the Goraya-based businessman, Chunni Lal Gaba. The latter is close to Akali leader Phillaur. Bhola has alleged that Varinder would get pseudoephedrine (use to make synthetic drug) from a pharmaceutical factory in Gagret in Himachal Pardesh. The unit is owned by Gaba.
Looking back
In February this year, the Enforcement Directorate issued summons to Damanvir and Chunni Lal Gaba for questioning
Damanvir reportedly left for Dubai and the ED again issued summons to him in March and then in April
Summons to Damanvir were issued for the fourth time asking him to appear on June 13
But only Gaba, not Damanvir, appeared before the ED on June 13
The Patiala police arrested Gaba’s son Gurjit Singh alias Monu, a proclaimed offender on June 19
A day later, the police also arrested Gaba
