CHANDIGARH – In a curious case, the Ferozepur police first ordered attachment, without any FIR, of the property of two Hoshiarpur-based BJP leaders, terming them notorious drug smugglers, but later withdrew the order after senior BJP leaders protested that the names had been mistakenly included. An inquiry into the “serious lapse” has been ordered.
The names of Sanjeev Talwar, private secretary of Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna, and Talwar’s close aide Nannu were clubbed in a group of 17 drug smugglers, but no FIR was registered against them. On February 10, SP (Detective), Ferozepur, issued a letter of property attachment of the “accused” to the SSP of Hoshiarpur.
It referred to an FIR registered on December 20 last year regarding recovery of 22.5-kg heroin from a smuggler, Harbhajan Singh alias Bittu alias Rana. The FIR or subsequent investigation never named the BJP leaders. The process of property attachment takes months and happens only after conviction by a court, yet, in this case, the police issued the letter within two months of registration of the case.
A miffed Avinash Rai Khanna termed the letter of property attachment and naming of his close aides in a drug case a conspiracy to malign his image. Khanna along with MP Vijay Sampla had organised drug awareness camps and seminars last year. Khanna said he was shocked to learn about the letter, “It is some conspiracy. The two were never booked, arrested or even questioned. I wonder how the police issued the letter and how it was circulated. I have demanded a high-level probe,” he added.
Ferozepur SSP Hardyal Singh Mann said the letter had been withdrawn, “We are verifying it. An inquiry is on,” he said. Hoshiarpur SSP Dhanpreet Kaur said the letter was received but it fell in the jurisdiction of Ferozepur police and the court there to process it.” Sanjeev Talwar said some political rivals had conspired with the police to malign his image, “I have informed the state and Central leadership that I am clean. I have also sought a probe from the police and punishment for the guilty.”
Last year, the Ferozepur police had booked a BJP leader close to state party chief president Kamal Sharma for drug smuggling. Sharma had distanced himself from the accused, saying he had expelled him a few days earlier.
Meanwhile, AAP leader Harkesh Sidhu has demanded a probe, saying a politico-criminal nexus aiding the drug trade was well known and political pressure often worked in favour of the influential.
