Drug haul: Vijender to be quizzed, Ram Singh expelled

Patiala, March 11:

bronze medallist

will be questioned in connection with the recent recovery of 26 kg of

worth Rs 130 crore, Punjab police said on Sunday as his sparring partner Ram Singh was expelled from the National Institute of Sports (NIS) camp after admitting that he consumed drugs.

Police arrested another accused Sunil Katyal, who was engaged to check the "purity and quality" of the drug, from Ludhiana. With this, the total number of persons arrested in this case has gone up to seven.

"We will be summoning Vijender for questioning. However, at present, the focus of our investigation is to catch other smugglers in this case," Fatehgarh Sahib SSP Hardyal Singh Mann told PTI over phone here.

"Let us arrest the 3-4 key accused in the case and then we will focus on Vijender," he said.

Serving as a head constable with Punjab police, Ram Singh, also Vijender's roommate, was expelled from the NIS after after admitting that he had consumed drugs with Vijender on several occasions.

"Ram will be relieved from the national camp here from tomorrow," NIS executive director L S Ranawat said.

27-year-old Vijender, a DSP with Haryana police, has denied any involvement in the illegal drugs trade or to taking drugs.

Ram, who was grilled for the third consecutive day today, has not been arrested so far.

He is being questioned on a day-to-day basis following the arrest of alleged drug peddler and NRI Anoop Singh Kahlon. Police had recovered 26 kg of heroin worth Rs 130 Crore from his house at Zirakpur, on the outskirts of Chandigarh.

"On the interrogation of Kahlon and six others arrested in the case, the names of 4-5 persons engaged in the drug trade in the region has emerged," Mann said adding that police was conducting raids at various places to arrest them.

The Haryana police too is keeping a tab on Vijender after his name cropped up in the case, official sources said adding that a SP-level officer of crime branch was in constant touch with the Punjab police in this case.

A Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) registered in the name of Vijender's wife Archana was found near Kahlon's residence on the day of the raids.