Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 5

Deputy Director of the Enforcement Directorate Niranjan Singh, who had been investigating the infamous Bhola drug case and had interrogated ex-Akali minister Bikram Majithia, on Friday took voluntary retirement from the department, three years before his term was to end.

Having served in the ED for 32 years, Niranjan Singh is said to have been given three month notice while putting in his papers to ED Director Karnal Singh.

The ED director is yet to take a final call on the matter. Niranjan Singh confirmed the development saying that he had put up his paper “owing to personal reasons”.

However, there are various theories running on what led him to take the step when his retirement was due in 2021.

Those siding with Niranjan Singh have been maintaining that his inquiry was being suppressed by various ways.

“Less than a month after he had summoned Majithia in December 2014, he was transferred to Kolkata. We had taken up the matter in his favour and got his transfer stayed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court,” said lawyer Navkiran Singh adding that there were several attempts to scuttle the investigation later too.

“His team had been reduced. He had to present several details in the court in a sealed cover. Off late, I too began to feel that he was not working to his capacity as nothing was coming since the past one and a half years but I never knew that he was under so much pressure. I realised this when I met him last in the court, he seemed to be very much frustrated,” Navkiran Singh further said.

Insiders also shared that after he got promoted in October 2016, his powers had been curtailed to being a supervisory officer and he was no longer the inquiry officer.

Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu also reacted to the development saying, “The step he has taken is very abnormal especially since he was handling such a big case. I see no other reason for him to step down at this juncture when he had three more years to perform. I want the Government of India to investigate the circumstances under which he had to put in his papers.”

Sidhu added, “I hope that his VRS will not be accepted as it will have a huge demoralising effect on the entire team of the investigating body.”

A President Medal awardee in 2014, Niranjan Singh had lodged a case against ICE king Raja Kandola in 2012. Next year, he had taken up the drug case of Anup Kahlon, which ultimately came to be called as Rs 6,000-crore Bhola drug case.

He had dug up various cases related to FEMA including Rs 800 crore nexus involving money changers. He had also done preliminary investigation in the FEMA case against ex-IAS Swaran Singh. But after his transfer issue cropped up, all other cases were taken back from him.

With regards to the case, nearly 71 persons have already been charge sheeted (none in the last one and a half years).

The main accused, including Bhola, Anup Kahlon, Bittu Aulakh and Jagjit Chahal, are behind bars since 2013, mainly because of proceedings filed by the ED in the case.

Look Out Notices (LOC) against three NRIs said to be involved in the case had been issued by the Canadian authorities. The next hearing in the case in high court is on October 11.

However, off late there also had been severe criticism against Niranjan Singh from various circles for not being able to conclude the inquiry even after five years.

Timeline:

March 3, 2013: Canadian NRI Anoop Kahlon arrested in drug case by Fatehgarh Sahib police.

November 12, 2013: Dismissed cop Jagdish Bhola arrested.

November 15, 2013: Amritsar-based SAD leader Bittu Aulakh and businessman Jagjit Chahal arrested.

December 13, 2013: Delhi-based alleged smuggler Varinder Raja arrested by police.

February 18, 2014: I-T department seizes a diary of Goraya-based businessman Chunni Lal Gaba which proved his links with politicians.

May 22, 2014: Jails Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur resigns.

June 21, 2014: Chunni Lal Gaba arrested by Patiala Police.

June 24, 2014: Son of former minister Phillaur, Damanvir appears before ED after having been summoned since February.

July 4, 2014: Chunni Lal’s son Gurmesh Gaba appears before ED

October 13, 2014: Former minister Phillaur and CPS Avinash Chander appear before ED

October 17, 2014: Jalandhar Congress MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh appears before ED

October 20, 2014: Former NRI Sabha Chairman Kamaljit Hayre appears before ED

December 26, 2014: Majithia appears in ED.

January 8, 2015: Varinder Raja and Sukhjeet Sukha brought by ED in its custody for four days.

January 12, 2015: Bittu Aulakh taken by ED in its custody for two days.

January 16, 2015: Inquiry Officer Niranjan Singh transferred to Kolkata.

January 21, 2015: High Court orders stay on transfer of Niranjan Singh.

October 6, 2016: Niranjan S promoted as Deputy Director.

October 5, 2018: Niranjan S opts for VRS.