Punjab ASI suspended after camera catches him planting heroin at Shiv Sena leader's home

A Punjab Police assistant sub-inspector has been suspended after hidden-camera footage from a Shiv Sena leader's residence in Khanna allegedly showed him planting a packet beneath a mattress, shortly before another police team claimed to have recovered heroin from the same spot.

Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Darpan Ahluwalia has ordered the suspension of ASI Sukhdev Singh, who was posted with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) staff, and initiated a departmental inquiry. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by an officer of Superintendent of Police rank, has also been constituted to investigate the incident and establish whether other police personnel were involved.

The Shiv Sena (Punjab) leader, Mahant Kashmir Giri, who was arrested following the alleged recovery, has been discharged from the case.

Hidden camera footage exposes alleged planting of contraband

The incident came to light after footage from a hidden camera installed at Giri's residence near Khati Kan Chowk in Khanna was retrieved and examined by senior police officials on Saturday evening.

The recording allegedly shows Sukhdev Singh entering a room in plain clothes and placing an object beneath a mattress. Shortly afterwards, a police team, including Sadar police station house officer Vijaypal Singh and City-2 police station house officer Tarwinder Kumar Bedi, arrived at the residence with Giri to conduct a search.

During the raid, the officers claimed to have found around 30 grams of heroin beneath the same mattress and arrested the Shiv Sena leader.

After reviewing the footage, SSP Ahluwalia ordered Giri's immediate discharge from the case. The video subsequently circulated on social media, raising questions about the police operation and the alleged recovery.

Driver's arrest preceded raid at Shiv Sena leader's house

The case originated with the arrest of Giri's driver, Gurjant Singh, alias Janta, who was allegedly found carrying 7.5 grams of heroin.

During his interrogation, Giri's name reportedly emerged, following which the police proceeded to search the Shiv Sena leader's residence.

The subsequent footage, however, appeared to contradict the police's claim that the contraband had been recovered during the search. It showed the ASI allegedly placing an object beneath the mattress before the team arrived and claimed to have discovered the heroin.

SIT to investigate role of other police personnel

Following confirmation of the footage, Ahluwalia formally suspended Sukhdev Singh on Sunday and ordered a departmental inquiry. The SIT, led by an SP-rank officer, has been tasked with reconstructing the sequence of events and examining the role of all police personnel involved in the operation.

The investigation will also examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged recovery, including the source of the contraband and how it came to be placed at Giri's residence.

According to reports, the SIT is headed by SP Harpinder Gill. The inquiry is expected to establish the sequence of events and determine whether any other officers were involved in the alleged attempt to frame the Shiv Sena leader.

The incident has also triggered political criticism of the Punjab government, with Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal targeting the Aam Aadmi Party government over the alleged misconduct by police personnel.