A senior Delhi Police official, who had gone to London to extradite an alleged international drug supplier, has tested positive for Covid-19’s new variant ‘Omicron’

The Indian Police Service (IPS) rank officer of the Special Cell unit, was accompanied by two others who are also under home isolation, police said.

According to police, an extradition request against Harvinder Singh, a resident of Southall in London, was sent to the United Kingdom in 2020.

On the basis of extradition request, Singh was arrested by UK Police in February. The trial at Westminster’ Court was concluded in November and Singh put forward his consent for Extradition to India. After the order, a team constituted by the Delhi Police Commissioner comprising Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ingit Pratap Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rahul Vikram and Inspector Anuj Kumar was sent to London to take the physical custody of Singh, police had said.

On December 24, the team, along with Harvinder Singh, landed at Delhi. Due to the norms, the accused as well the entire team had to undergo Covid-19 screening tests at Delhi Airport as well as Heathrow Airport in London, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Rajiv Ranjan Singh said.

After completion of his mandatory quarantine period, the accused will be taken in police custody remand from Tihar Jail and further investigation will be carried out, police had said. A senior police officer said that team landed on December 24. A DCP rank officer is tested positive for Omicron and is under home isolation. He is doing better.

In view of a rise in the number of coronavirus cases and that of its new variant Omicron, the Delhi Police on Wednesday had revised the standard operating procedure on health welfare for its personnel, stating that an officer of the rank of inspector and above should personally visit the hospitalised personnel or their kin on a regular basis.

“The revised SOP is more elaborate and covers complete well-being of our personnel suffering from any disease and admitted in hospital for medical treatment. The DCPs and unit heads have been designated nodal health officers.

“The nodal health officers will ensure that an officer of the rank of inspector or above should personally meet the hospitalised personnel or their kin, on regular basis till she or he gets fit. In case of outstation cases, video-conferencing with the ailing or their family members be ensured with regular feedback on health of the ailing personnel,” they had said.