Hidden camera captures Punjab cop planting heroin at Hindu religious leader's house; officer suspended

CHANDIGARH: Footage showing a police officer planting packets of drugs at the residence of a Hindu religious leader in Punjab has surfaced. The incident took place at the residence of Mahant Kashmir Giri in Khanna, Ludhiana.

The footage, recorded by a hidden camera at the house, shows an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) hiding a packet of heroin under a mattress during a police search. Following the release of the video, Mahant Giri, who had been arrested in the case, was cleared of the charges and released. ASI Sukhdev Singh, who planted the drugs at the religious leader's house, has been suspended.

Earlier, police had seized 7.5 grams of heroin from Gurjant Singh, Mahant Giri's driver. Following this, a police team raided Mahant Giri's house, seized 30 grams of heroin and arrested him. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by an officer of Superintendent of Police rank, has been formed to conduct a detailed probe into the incident.

The incident has triggered sharp criticism from the Opposition against the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab. Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal took a dig at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, saying the Aam Aadmi Party had promised to deliver services to people's doorsteps, but nobody expected the Punjab Police to deliver drugs to the homes of innocent people to frame them.