No links between Vijender-NRI drug peddler, suggests initial probe

Friday, 08/03/2013

http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/Initial-probe-suggests-no-links-between-Vijender_drug-peddler-NRI.html

MOHALI/CHANDIGARH: Initial probe by Punjab police into the sensational drug bust of 26kg of heroin, worth an estimated Rs 130 crore in the drug market, from an NRI and his equally sensational allegations of linking himself with Olympic medal winning boxer Vijender Singh seem to suggest that as of Friday, no links could be established between the Haryana-based boxer to the drug dealer.

However, Ram Singh, another boxer named by the NRI and a friend of Vijender, has been asked to join investigations but it remains unclear whether he has joined the investigations or not yet.

“We just recovered Vijender’s car at some distance from the arrested NRI’s house and there is nothing much after the initial probe to tell,” Fathegarh Sahib SSP Hardyal Singh Mann told the media.

“In the initial probe there has been nothing to tell. Besides, it appears there is no link of the boxer with the person from whose house the heroin was seized. If needed, we may call Vijender for questioning. But at present there is nothing in connection with Vijender,” he said.

In a statement released to the media, Ludhiana Range DIG MF Farooqui said that the NRI, Anoop Singh Kahlon, made certain disclosures concerning a few sportsmen, including boxers, Vijender Singh and Ram Singh, which are presently being examined. He said that Ram Singh was called by 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.

Vijender, the former world number one, who gave India its first Olympic medal in boxing in 2008, on his part, has denied that he knew the alleged NRI drug peddler.

Twenty seven year-old Vijender Singh, a DSP rank officer with Haryana police, said on Friday that allegations were ‘ridiculous charges’, which would be proved wrong in investigations.

While speaking to the media, he is learnt to have said, “If he is a drug peddler then how can his word be trusted. If I abuse drugs, won’t I be caught in dope tests. Even now, I am open to being tested if it is required. I am sure by evening everything will become clear. I have no links to any of the persons being named by the police.”

Sources at National Institute of Sports (NIS) at Patiala said local police have questioned Ram Singh and so far found nothing incriminating against him. Haryana Police was also in touch with its counter-parts in Punjab following the seizure.

Punjab police had recovered 26kg of heroin from Anoop Singh Kahlon’s house in ‘Savastik Vihar’ in Zirakpur on the outskirts of the city in Mohali district on Thursday. Four people, including Kahlon, have been arrested so far.

During interrogation, Kahlon alleged that two boxers Vijender Singh and Ram Singh, a Punjab police inspector, were his ‘clients’ and used to visit him. Police said Vijender will be quizzed if required.

Besides Kahlon, an alleged drug peddler based in Canada, the other arrested person was Kulwinder Singh alias Rockey of Nawan Shahar Badala village in Kharar area of Mohali.

According to police sources, two more people were arrested but their identity is not being disclosed on the plea further investigations may be hampered.