A special PMLA court in Jalandhar on Tueesday convicted Ranjit Singh Kandola, a notorious Punjab-based drug dealer, and his wife Rajwant Kaur on money-laundering charges. The court sentenced Kandola, also known as Raja Kandola, to nine years in prison, while Kaur was ordered to serve three years behind bars.
The case stemmed from a massive narcotics bust in June 2012, where Punjab Police seized drugs valued at approximately Rs 200 crore from a syndicate alleged to be operated by Kandola and his associates. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated the money-laundering probe following this seizure, leading to the recent convictions.
Kandola’s criminal enterprise was reputed for its sophistication and international reach. According to the ED, Kandola was orchestrating a racket to manufacture ‘Ice’ (a party drug) using methamphetamine and ephedrine, while also sourcing heroin from across the Pakistan border. The extensive investigation revealed Kandola’s involvement in drug distribution across Punjab, Delhi, and other major cities.
The Court’s decision marked a significant milestone in the case, which had been under judicial scrutiny for several years. Kandola, currently imprisoned in Delhi's Tihar Jail, had a tumultuous legal history. He was initially arrested by Punjab Police in June 2012 but managed to escape custody later that year. He was subsequently rearrested in Delhi.
The prosecution presented a detailed case, showing that Kandola’s network extended beyond Indian borders, with connections to drug trafficking operations in Canada, Australia, and the United States. The ED’s chargesheet, filed in 2015, detailed Kandola’s illicit activities, including money laundering linked to his drug trafficking operations.
The court’s judgment also addressed the involvement of Kaur, who was sentenced to three years in prison. Both Kandola and Kaur were fined — Kandola received a penalty of Rs one lakh, while Kaur was fined Rs 25,000. Their son, Bally Singh, was acquitted in this case, marking a partial relief for the family.
The case's complexity was compounded by earlier judicial challenges. In December 2023, a District and Sessions Judge had acquitted Kandola and 13 others, citing procedural flaws, including the involvement of an investigating officer who was not appropriately ranked to handle an NDPS case. This ruling highlighted issues within the investigation process, which had led to calls for a more rigorous legal approach.
Adding to the case's intrigue, another investigating officer, Inderjit Singh, faced accusations in a separate drug smuggling case, further complicating the legal landscape.
Former Deputy Director of the ED, Niranjan Singh, was present in the court to ensure that justice was served. “My work on Kandola, (Jagdish) Bhola cases stands vindicated,” said Niranjan Singh, after the verdict.
