Two Punjab cops suspended after their report helps ‘druglord’ get back passport

Chandigarh: Two Punjab Police officers have been suspended for giving a "misleading" report on Canada-based Indian origin druglord Shehnaz Singh aka Shawn Bhinder, wanted by FBI, which helped him get his impounded passport released from Amritsar Regional Passport Office. Police are now investigating if he fled abroad.Tarn Taran senior SP Surendra Lamba named the two cops as Tarn Taran Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) in charge, inspector Prabhjit Singh, and ASI Lakhwinder Singh. They were suspended on April 3, and face a departmental probe."Prima facie it was major negligence and, apparently, connivance. We are inquiring into this major lapse. The role of other officials will also be examined," the SSP told TOI.Asked if he may have fled the country, Lamba said, "That is part of the investigation. FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Officer) can say. We are trying to find out… The CIA in charge should have understood that there was a possibility of him fleeing the country in this high-stakes case."Bhinder was arrested in Ludhiana on March 10, 2025, in a 2024 Arms Act case, and his passport was impounded by RPO Amritsar on April 11 that year on the request of Tarn Taran police. He was granted bail by Punjab and Haryana high court on Oct 1, 2025.On Dec 29, Tarn Taran SSP office received a query regarding issuance of no-objection certificate (NOC) for release of Bhinder's passport. "Inspector Prabhjit, to whom the matter was marked, assigned it to ASI Lakhwinder, who submitted a report recommending issuance of NOC for passport release. Then, Prabhjit obtained a legal opinion and prepared a ‘misleading' report," said a senior police officer.The report, along with the NOC for release of passport, was forwarded directly to Amritsar RPO without following the proper channel, the officer added."Thereafter, another communication was sent by Prabhjit to Tarn Taran Sadar SHO, which was forwarded to DSP Goindwal, and then routed to the District Saanjh office. Based on Goindwal's report, DSP (HQ) again forwarded a communication to Amritsar RPO, recommending issuance of NOC," said the officer.When Bhinder was arrested on March 10, 2025, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav had described it as a "major breakthrough" in the anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh'. He said Bhinder was a key player in a global narcotics syndicate, smuggling cocaine from Colombia into USA and Canada.In a press release, Punjab Police said Bhinder, a native of Mandiala village in Batala, lived in Brampton, Canada, and was wanted by FBI in one of the largest drug seizures in the USA on Feb 26, 2025, wherein, Federal officers arrested six of his associates and seized 391kg methamphetamine, 109 kg cocaine, four sophisticated weapons and vehicles from their possession.DGP Yadav had stated, "After the crackdown by the FBI, accused Shawn Bhinder managed to give the slip to FBI and clandestinely landed in India. Punjab Police tracked him down and arrested him from Ludhiana."MSID:: 130091842 413 |