The case has raised concerns about the potential involvement of law enforcement in criminal activities, highlighting the need for thorough scrutiny within the ranks
An ongoing investigation into the extortion case involving a 79-year-old NRI, Jaspal Singh Cheema, has exposed a wider conspiracy orchestrated by a group that included a Chandigarh Police constable. The accused, led by a drug peddler with a criminal background, devised a plan to frame Cheema under false charges, intending to extort money and prevent him from returning to the USA.
The plot unraveled when Karan, one of the main conspirators currently on the run, contacted Gaurav, a known drug peddler also referred to as Rajbir. Gaurav, familiar with Constable Balwinder Singh, drew him into the scheme. The plan was to plant drugs in Cheema’s vehicle and then blackmail him with the threat of prosecution under the NDPS Act.
To date, Constable Singh and Harinder have been arrested, while the police continue to search for Karan, Gaurav, and Riya
The involvement of Cheema’s former employee, Harinder Kaur, added another layer to the conspiracy. Harinder, who continued to receive financial support from Cheema even after he relocated to the USA, feared losing this support if Cheema left India. In a bid to keep him in the country, she concealed his passport upon his return to India after six years. Despite her efforts, Cheema secured a new passport and prepared to depart on July 22.
As Cheema’s departure loomed, Harinder sought help from her friend Riya. Together with Karan, they devised a scheme to plant drugs in Cheema’s car, hoping to have him arrested and thereby prolong his stay. Karan reached out to Gaurav, who involved Constable Singh in the plan. Following Karan’s instructions, Harinder took Cheema’s car to a location in Mohali to hide the drugs.
On July 18, Cheema and Harinder went shopping in Sector 22, Chandigarh. After parking the car, they were approached by two individuals, including Constable Singh, who claimed they had received a tip-off about illegal substances in the vehicle. A search led to the discovery of opium, hidden in a black polythene bag. The conspirators then extorted Rs 3 lakh from Cheema and confiscated his passport to prevent his departure.
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