Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 27

Ramanjit Singh alias Romi (29), the Nabha jailbreak accused who was recently arrested in Hong Kong in connection with a robbery there, was reportedly close to striking a deal with the Punjab Police to give information about then most-wanted gangsters Vicky Gounder and Prema Lahoria.

“The deal was almost through, but fell flat after he demanded more than Rs 50 lakh,” a senior police official said. Officially, the state police deny the reports of such a deal.

During investigations into the Nabha jailbreak case, Romi’s name surfaced as a facilitator. Later, he was in touch with the police to allegedly strike a deal for getting the gangsters arrested.

A senior cop told The Tribune that they were were in touch with the Interpol authorities. The police believe that Romi regularly received money from gangsters for investment and also helped them when they needed funds. “His interrogation is necessary to ascertain where he invested money he got from gangsters and other links,” said a top police officer.

Crimes in Hong Kong

Media reports emerging from Hong Kong suggest that Romi went to Rosary Hill School on Stubbs Road, Hong Kong Island, in his early years.

He is charged in a case in which more than 450 million Japanese yen (HK $32 million) was stolen in Tsim Sha Tsui. He was later charged with another robbery of HK $3.2 million in Hung Hom in March last year.

“We all know he was involved in many various crimes in India. He travels between India and Hong Kong frequently. At a point he got so rich and he then went low-profile in the city. We know his money is dirty,” the foreign media quoted his acquaintance in Hong Kong.

Terror connection

Romi, it is believed, coordinated between Punjab gangsters and terrorists. His name had also figured in the killing of RSS, Shiv Sena and Dera Sirsa men. He had close links with Pakistan’s ISI and was coordinating between terror groups and Punjab gangsters, the police claimed.

A senior official said Romi came in touch with Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, a UK national and key conspirator in the terror module that carried out targeted killings of Hindu leaders in 2016-17, through Harmeet Singh alias PHD, a KLF terrorist based in Pakistan.

Govt files extradition case

The Union Government has filed an official request for the extradition of 29-year-old Ramanjit Singh, alias Romi, who was arrested in Hong Kong in connection with a robbery there. However, the government has been briefed that the extradition could only be processed once his legal proceedings in Hong Kong are over.

‘Will oppose extradition’

Moga: US-based attorney Gurpatwant Pannun, legal adviser for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), has said he will legally defend Romi. “Charges against Romi are politically motivated. We will oppose his extradition from Hong Kong as he might be tortured in custody in Punjab,” he said. TNS