Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has arrested Shishan Mittal, a drug inspector accused of helping imprisoned smugglers in facilitating the expansion of their drug network outside the jail. His arrest is a significant breakthrough in Punjab’s ongoing war against drugs. The crackdown comes amidst heightened efforts to dismantle illegal drug operations in the state, which continue to plague its communities and fuel crime.
“The police teams from ANTF, headed by Special DGP Kuldeep Singh, have apprehended drug inspector Shishan Mittal from Aerocity in SAS Nagar (Mohali),” said Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Friday.
Stating that Mittal’s involvement extended beyond regulatory failures, DGP Yadav said that the drug inspector was intricately linked to a network that dealt in illegal pharmaceuticals, operating via medical stores, and laundering vast sums of drug money through benami accounts registered under his relatives’ names.
The police, with the help of advanced technical surveillance and human intelligence, carried out multiple raids across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, leading to the discovery of Rs 7.09 crores in 24 bank accounts tied to Mittal. Additionally, cash, foreign currency, and two bank lockers were seized during these operations.
Mittal’s criminal activities were not just limited to financial crimes. Initial investigations revealed that he had been actively coordinating with jailed drug smugglers to keep their operations running outside prison walls. His frequent, unauthorized foreign trips further raised suspicions, as he was found traveling abroad without obtaining official permission or applying for the necessary ex-India leave. This activity points towards his deeper involvement in transnational drug smuggling networks, likely helping orchestrate large-scale deals.
The ANTF’s strategic and timely action was lauded by the DGP, who emphasized that such arrests demonstrate the force’s commitment to dismantling the drug mafia. He also confirmed that more investigations are ongoing, as the full extent of Mittal’s complicity unfolds.
Adding to the gravity of the case, Mittal’s anticipatory bail plea was recently denied by a local session court. This denial serves as an indication of the seriousness of the charges under which Mittal has been arrested, including Sections 29 — conspire or abet the commission of offences related to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; and 59 — a public servant who wilfully supports or abets drug smugglers, or neglects their duties concerning the enforcement of drug laws, can be subjected to severe penalties, including imprisonment of the NDPS Act; and section 111—organized crime of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Special DGP Kuldeep Singh provided further insights into the financial scope of Mittal's operations. Seized assets included Rs 1.49 crores in cash, 260 grams of gold, and 515 Dirhams. Properties amassed through the proceeds of his illegal activities were also discovered, such as flats worth Rs two crores in Zirakpur and a Rs 40 lakh plot in Dabwali, signaling the vast extent of his gains through smuggling networks.
Mittal’s arrest marks a key victory in Punjab’s fight against drug cartels, sending a strong message that even those in positions of power and responsibility will be held accountable for their role in sustaining the drug trade. The ANTF continues to investigate Mittal’s wider network, with more arrests expected shortly.
