Investigation Underway After CCTV Exposes Alleged Police Frame-Up

CHANDIGARH — The Punjab Police have placed an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) under immediate suspension following the emergence of incriminating hidden camera footage that purportedly shows the officer planting narcotics inside a religious leader's residence prior to an official search operation.

The controversy, which has raised severe questions regarding police accountability and procedural integrity within the Ludhiana rural district, centers around a high-profile raid conducted by the Khanna police at the dwelling of Mahant Kashmir Giri.

The Sequence of Events

According to official police records, the operation was initiated following the apprehension of the religious leader's driver, Gurjant Singh alias Janta, who was allegedly intercepted in possession of 7.5 grams of heroin. Investigators claimed that subsequent interrogation of the driver implicated Mahant Kashmir Giri in a broader drug trafficking network.

Acting on this purported lead, a specialized police detachment descended upon the mahant's residence to execute a formal search. During the operation, officers reported recovering approximately 30 grams of heroin concealed beneath a bed mattress, promptly arresting the religious figure on narcotics charges.

However, the official police narrative unraveled when family members released footage captured by a covertly installed security camera inside the home.

The video evidence allegedly depicts ASI Sukhdev Singh, assigned to the CIA staff, entering the target room unaccompanied prior to the arrival of the main search party. The footage purportedly shows the officer covertly placing a small packet underneath the mattress. Moments later, the uniformed search team enters alongside the detained mahant and subsequently 'discovers' the narcotics at the exact location where the ASI was seen depositing the packet.

Official Action and SIT Formation

In the wake of the leaked footage and intense public scrutiny, Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr. Darpan Ahluwalia intervened swiftly. ASI Sukhdev Singh was suspended from active duty and formally removed from the investigation team. Simultaneously, authorities ordered the immediate release of Mahant Kashmir Giri from custody concerning the drug charges.

To ensure a transparent and thorough examination of the allegations, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a Superintendent of Police-rank officer has been constituted.

The newly formed SIT has been tasked with: * Verifying the authenticity and forensic integrity of the viral security camera footage. * Investigating the specific role and conduct of the suspended ASI. * Reconstructing the exact circumstances surrounding the alleged narcotics recovery. * Examining potential complicity or lapses by other personnel involved in the raid operation.

Political Fallout

The incident has ignited a fierce political storm in Punjab, with opposition parties seizing on the episode to criticize the state government's handling of law and order. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal publicly condemned the police conduct, questioning the systemic reforms promised by the current administration.

As the SIT commences its inquiry, legal experts and civil rights advocates are calling for strict penal action against officers found abusing state power to fabricate evidence, emphasizing that accountability within law enforcement agencies remains paramount to public trust.