Chandigarh, 10 January  – Former Punjab DGP Shashi Kant claimed that some policemen tried to abduct him this morning when he was going to the Aam Aadmi Party’s office in Fatehgarh Sahib to join the outfit.
Later in the day, the former Director General of Police (Prison) joined AAP at his residence in the presence of senior leaders of the outfit.
Mr Kant alleged that some police personnel in civil uniforms made an unsuccessful attempt to abduct him when he came out of his residence in Sector 18 of the city this morning for being vocal against drug rackets in the state.
He said he immediately called the Police Control Room (PCR), after which personnel from Chandigarh police rushed to the spot and rounded up at least five persons.
The former DGP (Prison) alleged that he was continuously being “pressurised” by Punjab police after he had been vocal about drug nexus in the state.
He alleged that politicians from major political parties, including Akali Dal and Congress, in the state and certain senior policemen were “patronising” drug mafias.
Mr Kant late this evening joined the AAP in the presence of senior leaders of the newly-floated party.
Meanwhile, Chandigarh Police looked into the matter and found that four members of an unarmed investigation team had gone to Sector 18 area in connection with an ongoing investigation pertaining to Mohali district.
“They were duly examined by Chandigarh Police and it was concluded that there was no ‘kidnapping plan’ of any kind whatsoever as apprehended by Shashi Kant,” a police officer said.
However, the complaint submitted by Mr Kant was dismissed as the accusations in it were unfounded, the officer said.
Speaking on the matter, Chandigarh SSP Sukhchan Singh Gill said Mr Kant’s complaint had been found to be wrong.
Two senior police officers visited Mr Kant at his residence and reminded him that he had been provided with two PSOs from Punjab Security Wing. They told the former DGP, if he has any such apprehensions in future, he or his PSOs should contact the Security Wing, police sources said.
Meanwhile, Punjab Congress Chief Partap Singh Bajwa condemned the alleged attempt by police personnel to abduct Mr Kant.
In a statement, he said the incident was “shocking and uncalled for”. He alleged that ruling SAD leaders were frightened after the name of Mr Majithia had came to the fore in the synthetic drug racket.
Mr Bajwa said Congress had taken up the issue of drugs in Punjab and started a state-wide agitation demanding a CBI inquiry into the drug racket.
He said Mr Kant had also prepared a list of political leaders and police officers who are running drug mafia in Punjab. “He (Kant) had feared threat to his life from the ruling party,” Mr Bajwa said.
The Congress leader said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who holds the home portfolio, owed an explanation on the issue of kidnapping attempt of Mr Kant.
He said this incident had endorsed the stand of Congress that Punjab police could not probe the drug racket, being under the influence of the ruling SAD-BJP government.