Chandigarh, Sept 24: Dismissed Assistant Inspector General Rajjit Singh, who had been absconding after being booked in cases linked to a suspected drug-smuggling and extortion network, surrendered to the Patiala police, concluding nearly six years on the run. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav confirmed that Singh had been formally arrested following his surrender.
The arrest comes ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, a period during which the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government has maintained a focus on combating drug abuse across the state. Political opposition parties had previously questioned the timeline regarding his arrest, asserting that administrative authorities ought to take firmer action against senior figures named in connection with the drug trade.
Singh was dismissed from service after investigations instituted under the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court examined his alleged nexus with dismissed Inspector Inderjit Singh. Judicial records from the High Court indicated that the probe raised questions regarding the conduct of Rajjit Singh alongside other senior police personnel.
In 2019, two separate cases were registered against him. The Vigilance Bureau initiated proceedings over allegations regarding assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, while the Special Task Force named him in a case involving allegations of extortion, protecting suspected drug smugglers, and falsely implicating individuals.
Singh went underground shortly after the Punjab and Haryana High Court rejected his bail plea, prompting law enforcement agencies to issue a lookout circular to facilitate his location. His name had featured in wider inquiries into the police-drug network, where court-directed probes reviewed financial records and official roles. Authorities stated that additional updates regarding the legal proceedings will follow as investigations progress.
