Olympic medalist 27-year-old Vijender Singh is in trouble as the Punjab Police recovered 26 kg heroin, worth Rs 130 crore, from a drug peddler’s flat, near which the boxer’s car, which is registered in the name of his wife, Archana Beniwal, was parked, on Thursday evening. In a shocking allegation, the drug peddler, Anup Singh Kahlon, told the police that Vijender and another boxer Ram Singh were his clients.
The Punjab Police has decided to call Vijender Singh and Ram Singh for interrogation. Ram Singh is an international level boxer, working with the Punjab Police.
On March 3, NRI Anup Singh Kahlon and Kulvinder Singh, alias Rocky, were arrested with 540g of heroin. On sustained interrogation of the duo, 26 kg heroin worth Rs130 crore was seized from Kahlon’s flat in Shivalik Vihar at Zirakpur, Mohali. The operation was carried out under Fatehgarh Sahib SSP Hardayal Singh Mann.
The Punjab Police also found a white coloured Endeavour car which is registered in the name of Vijender’s wife Archana Beniwal near the house, from where police recovered the huge haul of narcotics.
Sources said that during police interrogation, the accused had revealed that they were supplying drugs to an international sportsperson. According to police sources, Kahlon has claimed to have close link with Ram Singh, a boxer close to of Vijender Singh.
Fatehgarh Sahib SSP Hardayal Singh Mann on Friday said that in initial probe there was nothing to suggest a link between boxer Vijender and the drug dealer.
MF Farooqui, DIG, ludhiana Range, however, refused to give clean chit to anybody. He said, “Anoop Singh Kahlon made certain disclosures concerning a few sportsmen, including boxers Vijender Singh and Ram Singh, which are presently being examined. Boxer Ram Singh was called by the Fatehgarh Sahib police to join investigation on March 8 but has not been arrested. Investigation is in progress and further details would be given on completion of investigation.”
Talking to The Pioneer on Friday, Vijender denied any connection with the Rs130-crore drug haul in Punjab. “I have nothing to do with these people. I do not know how my name has come up in this matter. I was in Mumbai for some work and my fellow boxer Ram Singh dropped me at the Airport in my car from NIS Patiala and I don’t know how my car reached the place of incident.”
Manoj Beniwal, elder brother of Vijender, said, “My younger brother is innocent. What to talk of drugs, he does not even know the entire names of drugs. He is sportsperson, and we are a family committed to values.”
Beniwal, however, admitted the white coloured Endeavour car was found near the house, from where said heroine recovered by the Punjab Police. “Neither Vijender was in the car nor he went to that place at the time of incident. His fellow boxer Ram Singh took Vijender’s car for personal work. Both boxers are practicing for the upcoming World Boxing Championship in Kazakhstan,” he said, adding, while Vijender was at Mumbai, his wife Archana was in Gurgaon at that time.
The Punjab Police arrested two more persons in this drug haul case and a cash amount of Rs 1 cr and 20-kg chemicals have been recovered from them. The arrested have been identified as Manpreet Singh, alias Mani, and his relative Gabbar Singh.