Badal rules out CBI probe into drug racket

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Monday ruled out a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into a multi-crore rupee drug racket unearthed by Punjab Police.

Talking to media in Mohali town near here, Badal said the Punjab Police was investigating the matter responsibly.

Badal alleged certain vested interests, including state Congress president Pratap Singh Bajwa, were demanding a CBI probe into the matter to save drugs racket mastermind Jagdish Bhola, arrested by the Punjab Police Nov 11 last year.

Bhola, a dismissed Punjab Police deputy superintendent of police and a former international medal-winning wrestler, is suspected to be the kingpin of the synthetic drugs racket run from Punjab and having links with several countries. The Punjab Police has so far exposed drugs racket worth over Rs.6,000 crore.

Referring to the hunger strike by Bajwa and other Punjab Congress leaders for a CBI probe into the drugs racket, Badal said this was just "political gimmickry to gain cheap popularity".

"An impartial DIG-level investigation is being conducted by the Punjab Police. The entire case would be thoroughly investigated to get to the bottom of the case. None would be spared if found guilty," Badal said.

He said Bajwa and other Congress leaders were using Bhola to falsely implicate Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the case and to help save Bhola from law.