CHANDIGARH: The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Punjab Police has arrested Drug Inspector Shishan Mittal for his alleged involvement in drug smuggling operations linked to illegal pharmaceuticals and medical stores. The ANTF has seized Rs 1.49 crore in cash, 260 grams of gold, and foreign currency, along with freezing 24 bank accounts containing Rs 7.09 crore.
For his involvement in facilitating drug smuggling operations connected to illegal pharmaceuticals, medical stores, and laundering drug money through benami accounts in the names of his relatives, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Punjab Police has arrested Drug Inspector Shishan Mittal. The authorities have recovered Rs 1.49 crores in cash, 260 grams of gold, and foreign currency, in addition to identifying and freezing 24 bank accounts containing Rs 7.09 crores.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, said that following a combination of advanced technical surveillance and human intelligence, police teams from the ANTF apprehended Drug Inspector Shishan Mittal from Aerocity in SAS Nagar (Mohali).
“The development came about a month after Punjab Police froze 24 bank accounts, with the total amount reaching Rs 7.09 crores, linked to the accused Drug Inspector. This was besides seizing huge amounts of cash and foreign currency during a series of coordinated raids conducted at different locations in Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. In addition to this, two bank lockers were also seized,” he said.
Yadav added that preliminary investigations suggested the accused drug inspector had been in regular contact with drug smugglers lodged inside jails and had facilitated their drug network outside.
The probe also revealed that the accused drug inspector had been frequently travelling to foreign countries without taking permission from the government or availing of ex-India leave.
In a notable judicial development, Mittal’s anticipatory bail application was recently rejected by the sessions court, further underscoring the severity of the charges against him.
Sharing more details, Special DGP Kuldeep Singh said that the ANTF recovered Rs 1.49 crores in cash, 260 grams of gold, and 515 Dirhams. Furthermore, substantial assets acquired through the proceeds of illegal activities were identified, including flats valued at Rs 2 crores in Zirakpur, and a Rs 40 lakhs plot in Dabwali, among many others.
A case had already been registered under Section 29 (conspiracy or abetment in the commission of offences related to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances) and Section 59 (a public servant who wilfully supports or abets drug smugglers or neglects their duties concerning the enforcement of drug laws, can be subjected to severe penalties, including imprisonment) of the NDPS Act, as well as Section 111 (organised crime) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in this regard.
Sources revealed that these seizures of cash, gold, and foreign currency linked to Mittal were carried out during raids conducted in various places across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh on August 8 this year.
At that time, he was on a month-long medical leave, which ended on August 31. He had sought an extension of his leave, which was rejected by his department, and he is now considered absent from duty.
He was transferred as Drug Control Officer (DCO), Muktsar-1, after being previously posted as DCO Fazilka-2 with additional charge of Fazilka-1. However, he had not yet joined his new posting.
Despite a case under the NDPS Act being registered against him last month, Mittal was neither arrested nor suspended until today, when he was arrested from Mohali. Over the last two weeks, he had been questioned multiple times regarding allegations of his involvement in facilitating drug smuggling operations connected to illegal pharmaceuticals, medical stores, and laundering drug money.