Interpol issues notices against nine Indo-Canadians

The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has issued red corner notices -- similar to international warrants -- against nine Indo-Canadians for their alleged involvement in a drug smuggling network, a media report said.

The notices were issued against Ranjit "Daraa" Aujla, Lehmber Daleh, Parminder Singh Deo, Sarabjit Singh Sandar, Harbans Singh Sidhu, Nirankar Singh Dhillon, Gursewak Singh Dhillon, Amarjit Singh and Pardip Singh, the Vancouver Sun reported on Wednesday.

Aujla said he was innocent and ready "to fight the case" in India. He added the allegations have been swirling as rumours and occasional news reports since the 2013 arrest in Punjab of former policeman Jagdish Bhola.

According to police, Bhola was the kingpin of a billion-dollar network supplying drugs to North America and Europe through his Indo-Canadian contacts who smuggled drugs out of India.

Aujla said he was in Punjab when Bhola was arrested, but was never questioned or taken into custody by police.

"I hired a lawyer to check if there's any case against me in India," he said, "and my lawyer said there's nothing going on."

He said he came to know about the Interpol warrant when a reporter called him this week.

Meanwhile, Deo, who is retired, told the media on Wednesday that he has hired a lawyer in Punjab to get more information about the case.

He said he hasn't been in India in four years.

"I am very shocked from this news because in India, someone sitting in jail, he is telling all the stories," Deo was quoted as saying.