In a significant political development in Punjab, former Enforcement Directorate (ED) deputy director Niranjan Singh and former Punjab Police deputy superintendent of police Balwinder Sekhon formally entered active politics on Wednesday by joining Akali Dal Waris Punjab De. The induction ceremony took place in Chandigarh in the presence of Tarsem Singh, father of party chief and Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament Amritpal Singh, along with legislator Manpreet Ayali. The formal entry of two prominent former enforcement officials is seen as a key move centering on corruption and anti-narcotics enforcement in the border state.
High-Profile Drug Probe and Past Transfer Controversy
During his tenure with the central financial investigation agency, Niranjan Singh was at the forefront of several sensitive inquiries. Most notably, he led the money laundering investigation into Punjab's multi-crore synthetic narcotics syndicate, widely known as the Bhola drug case. As part of that probe, he had summoned and questioned Shiromani Akali Dal leader and Punjab's former revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia. During that period, an order transferring Niranjan Singh in the middle of the high-stakes interrogation had triggered intense political debate and public controversy regarding administrative interference in the probe.
Motivations Behind Entering the Political Arena
Explaining his decision to step into electoral politics, the former ED official stated that he previously harbored no ambition to join public office, but felt compelled by the deteriorating governance and ground reality in Punjab. He remarked that those running illicit syndicates and mafia operations have continuously wielded control over the state, both in the past and under current arrangements. Pointing toward deep-rooted corruption, he noted that major administrative scandals, including an earlier irrigation scam, saw zero meaningful punitive action or accountability from the administration that followed.
Allegations of Interference by Central Agency Directors
Speaking candidly about his years in service, Niranjan Singh leveled direct accusations regarding the barriers he encountered during the narcotics inquiry. He stated that 3 successive directors of the ED prevented him from taking the investigation against Bikram Singh Majithia forward. He maintained that when the central government itself lacked the will to see an inquiry completed, an investigator faced severe limitations on moving ahead. He recalled having submitted written communications to the central government highlighting these matters, adding that successive administrations have consistently misused the central probe agency for political ends.
Commitment to Eradicate Narcotics and Mafia Networks
Clarifying his alignment with Waris Punjab De, Niranjan Singh praised the organization's prolonged campaign against substance abuse across regional communities. He stressed that the outfit should not be viewed merely as a religious collective, but rather as an inclusive body representing the broader populace of Punjab. Asserting that he sought no personal political gain, he explained that his entry was intended solely to bolster efforts against widespread drug networks and administrative graft, adding that if their coalition secures governance, organized syndicates and mafia elements will have to pack up and leave the state.
