In a shocking turn of events, Punjab Congress MLA from Bholath Sukhpal Singh Khaira was arrested by the Punjab Police on Thursday morning in connection with a 2015 drugs case. The arrest, conducted by a team led by Superintendent of Police Manjeet Singh, unfolded at Khaira's residence in Chandigarh at around 6 am.

The arrest led to a dramatic confrontation between Khaira and the police, with the MLA demanding to see the arrest warrant and questioning the identity of the police officers involved. The police informed Khaira that he was being arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and would be taken to Jalalabad in Fazilka.

Khaira's son went live on Facebook during the arrest, showcasing the tense standoff between his father and the police. Khaira vehemently protested the arrest, asserting that the Supreme Court had already quashed the NDPS case against him.

Following his arrest, Khaira was presented before the Jalalabad court, where he was remanded to police custody until September 30. While the police had sought a seven-day remand, the court granted a two-day remand.

The arrest of the senior Congress leader has sparked a political firestorm in Punjab, with Khaira and the Congress party alleging that this is a case of political vendetta. Khaira's arrest has triggered a series of reactions and developments in the state.

Khaira's arrest has also set the stage for a legal battle. After being taken into custody, he was produced before Fazlika’s Jalalabad court, which granted Khaira’s police custody until September 30 — a decision that has raised eyebrows and further fueled the political controversy.

Khaira's son, Mehtab Singh Khaira, issued a statement asserting that his father was arrested in an “8-year-old drugs case”, which had previously been dismissed by the Supreme Court. The family remains resolute, pledging to fight for justice.

Leaders from the Congress party, including Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, have criticized the AAP Government's actions, labeling them as politically motivated. They asserted that Khaira's arrest is an example of the politics of revenge and intimidation by the state government.

Khaira himself, known for his vocal opposition to the AAP government, claimed that he was being targeted due to his criticism of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the state administration. He emphasized that he would continue to fight for justice and would not be intimidated by false accusations.

This arrest adds a new dimension to the political landscape in Punjab, where the AAP government, despite being in a coalition with the Congress at the national level, has faced friction and disagreements with the Congress party on various issues. The situation is likely to intensify the political rivalry in the state as the arrested MLA continues to maintain his innocence.

Khaira's arrest is expected to remain a focal point of discussion in Punjab's political arena in the coming days, raising questions about the use of state machinery against opposition leaders and the implications for the state's political landscape.

In light of these developments, Punjab is witnessing a political showdown between the ruling AAP government and the opposition Congress, with legal proceedings adding another layer of complexity to the situation.

Punjab Cong Holds Crucial Meet, To Stage Protest In Fazilka today

Punjab Congress leaders held a crucial meeting in Chandigarh, hours after Khaira was sent to two-day police remand in a 2015 drugs smuggling case. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa presided over the meeting, following which, a party delegation arrived at the residence of Governor Banwarilal Purohit in a bid to discuss the issue. Congress leader and former minister Pargat Singh said that the party leaders will be holding a protest on Friday, September 29 in connection with the arrest. “Tomorrow, we will proceed to Fazilka and this is not the right way to handle the current MLA. Today after meeting the Governor, we will go to Fazlika. We will protest against the arrest,” he said.

THE CASE

Sources privy to the development said that a special investigation team led by Deputy Inspector General of Police Swapan Sharma was constituted in April 2023 and Khaira was arrested based on its probe into the 2015 case. The case in question dates back to March 2015 when the Punjab Police arrested several individuals, including former chairman of the Market Committee Dhilwan, Gurdev Singh, on charges of drug smuggling. Khaira's name was linked to the case due to alleged connections to Gurdev Singh.

The drugs case was registered at Jalalabad in Fazilka and nine people, including a close aide of Khaira, were booked and later convicted under the NDPS Act. Police had recovered two kg heroin, 24 gold biscuits, one country-made pistol, a .315-bore pistol and two Pakistani SIM cards from them. Khaira's name emerged later during police investigation.

However, in 2017, the Supreme Court stayed the trial court proceedings against the Congress leader who was summoned as an additional accused in the matter. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in 2021 on the charge of money laundering linked to the 2015 drugs case. He was granted bail in 2022. In February 2023, the Apex Court quashed the summoning order against Khaira in the 2015 drugs case.

Accusations Against Khaira

The primary accusations against Khaira include supporting an international gang of smugglers, having sheltered them, receiving financial benefits from drug traffickers, and enjoying the proceeds of crime. It was alleged that between 2014 and 2020, Khaira reportedly spent over Rs 6.5 crore on himself and family members, with expenses exceeding his declared income. Investigations also revealed substantial unexplained cash deposits in Khaira and his family members’ bank accounts over the years.

The Investigation Agency accused Khaira of maintaining contact with drug traffickers and receiving funds from them. According to the charge sheet, the funds received were allegedly used for purchasing properties.