Congress lawmaker seeks report from Punjab into FBI-led probe into crime networks

Chandigarh, Aug 6 (IANS) Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Thursday raised the issue of Operation Hard Ball during Zero Hour and demanded that the state government place a detailed report before the House explaining the allegations emerging from the FBI-led international investigation into transnational organised crime networks.

Bajwa said the disclosures made by the US Department of Justice are deeply alarming as they allege that Punjab Police Inspector Gurinderjit Singh Nagra colluded with members of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang to extort nearly $400,000 (approximately Rs 3.8 crore) from an Indian-origin family in California by threatening to falsely implicate innocent family members, including women, in a murder case.

“The allegations suggest that official police machinery was allegedly misused to facilitate organised crime. This is not merely a case of individual misconduct but raises serious questions about the functioning of the law enforcement system in Punjab,” Bajwa informed the House.

Referring to findings of Operation Hard Ball, Bajwa said the investigation has exposed how transnational criminal networks linked to Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, Rohit Godara and their overseas associates allegedly continued to direct extortion, murder conspiracies and other organised criminal activities through local operatives, financial channels and corrupt facilitators.

The Congress leader questioned how such an alleged nexus between police officials and gangsters could function without political patronage. “Can such a network operate without the knowledge or protection of those in power? The AAP government owes an explanation to the people of Punjab. It must clarify whether organised crime has managed to infiltrate the policing system under its watch,” he said.

Bajwa demanded that the state government table a comprehensive report in the Vidhan Sabha detailing the facts of the case, the action taken against all those allegedly involved, the status of departmental and criminal proceedings, and the concrete measures being implemented to dismantle any alleged police-gangster nexus.

He noted that following the FBI disclosures, the Punjab Police transferred the officer concerned, initiated a departmental inquiry and subsequently arrested him in an extortion case under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Bajwa said that while the US investigation does not allege institutional wrongdoing by the Punjab Police as a whole, the revelations underscore the urgent need for greater accountability, stronger internal vigilance and complete transparency to restore public confidence in law enforcement.

–IANS

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