‘Track them down’: Punjab BJP chief demands probe into drug money trail

The Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday pressed for an investigation into the drug money trail to trace the “powerful” ultimate beneficiaries.

State BJP president Sunil Jakhar, in his letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, demanded that an investigation be conducted under the supervision of Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Sheel Nagu to trace the last beneficiaries of the drug money trail.

“This is important if your government wants to build credibility and commitment in the fight against drugs,” Mr. Jakhar said.

“Therefore, it would be appropriate, as the Prime Minister, for you to write to the honorable Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking his intervention to initiate a ‘time-bound’ investigation by a credible agency, or even a multi-agency investigation under his supervision, to unearth the final beneficiaries in the drug money trail,” he added.

The BJP leader said it was imperative to ‘follow the money’ on the road, without which eradicating drugs in Punjab would not only be futile but also a farce, and money should be kept flowing to catch the big fish and arrest the ultimate beneficiaries, be it politicians in the party ranks or officials.

“Drug cartels in Punjab cannot thrive without patronage of one kind or another,” he said.

He added that the recovery of drugs in Punjab costs thousands of crores of rupees, which forms the basis of the current rot. “Not only the trace of drug money, but also the investigation should include the trace of illicit money from mining and sand mafia so that criminals can be held accountable,” Mr. Jakhar said.