Punjab Police ASI suspended after CCTV shows heroin planted on priest in Khanna
Synopsis
A Punjab Police ASI was caught on hidden camera allegedly planting heroin under a priest's mattress minutes before a raid — and the footage went viral. The religious leader arrested in the case has been cleared, the officer suspended, and an SIT formed. It is a direct challenge to Punjab's anti-drug credibility under the AAP government.
Key Takeaways
ASI Sukhdev Singh of the Khanna Police CIA staff has been suspended after hidden-camera footage purportedly showed him placing heroin beneath a bed mattress at Mahant Kashmir Giri's residence before a police raid.
Mahant Kashmir Giri , who was arrested on drug trafficking charges following the raid, has been cleared of the case.
Police had claimed to have recovered approximately 30 grams of heroin from beneath the mattress during the raid.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a Superintendent of Police-rank officer has been formed to probe the matter.
SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal publicly attacked the Bhagwant Mann -led AAP government over the incident on X .
A Punjab Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) has been suspended and a Hindu religious leader cleared of drug charges after hidden-camera footage from the priest's residence in Khanna town, Ludhiana district, purportedly showed the officer placing a packet of heroin beneath a bed mattress moments before a police raid. The incident, which surfaced on 2 November 2026, has triggered a political firestorm and a formal Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged evidence-planting by the Khanna Police.
What the CCTV footage shows
The footage, recorded by a hidden camera installed at the residence of Mahant Kashmir Giri — a Hindu religious leader — allegedly shows ASI Sukhdev Singh, posted with the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff, entering a room in plain clothes ahead of the official police team. According to accounts of the video, he is seen placing a packet under the bed mattress. A short while later, a second officer entered the room accompanied by Mahant Giri; during the subsequent search, police claimed to have recovered approximately 30 grams of heroin from the very same spot.
The video has since gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention and prompting immediate administrative action.
The raid and the arrest
The police operation at Mahant Giri's residence was reportedly set in motion after the mahant's driver, Gurjant Singh alias Janta, was arrested on allegations of possessing 7.5 grams of heroin. Investigators claimed that information obtained during Janta's interrogation pointed toward Mahant Giri, prompting the subsequent raid. Following the recovery claim, Mahant Giri was arrested on drug trafficking charges — an arrest that has since been reversed after the video surfaced.
Action taken: ASI suspended, SIT formed
Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Darpan Ahluwalia suspended ASI Sukhdev Singh and ordered his removal from the investigation. Mahant Kashmir Giri has also been cleared of all charges in the case. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by a Superintendent of Police-rank officer, has been constituted to examine the authenticity of the viral footage, establish the alleged role of the suspended ASI, and investigate the circumstances surrounding the purported recovery.
Political fallout
The incident has ignited sharp criticism of the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal attacked the state government in a post on X, writing: 'Welcome to the AAP model of 'Law & Order'! A Khanna Police ASI was caught on CCTV secretly placing a packet of drugs beneath a mattress inside someone's home!' Badal further alleged that the government had promised 'home delivery of services' but had instead allowed police to deliver drugs to implicate innocent citizens, directly naming Chief Minister Mann in his post.
The AAP government has not issued a formal public response to Badal's remarks as of the time of reporting.
What happens next
The SIT's findings will be closely watched as they could determine whether criminal charges are filed against ASI Sukhdev Singh and whether any supervisory officers are held accountable. The case has wider implications for Punjab's ongoing anti-drug campaign, raising questions about whether evidence-planting is an isolated act or indicative of systemic pressure on field officers to show drug recoveries. Rights groups and legal observers are likely to track the probe for transparency and independence.
Point of View
Every drug arrest in the state is now under a shadow. The AAP government came to power partly on a promise to clean up the drugs-and-police nexus — a video showing the opposite is therefore maximally damaging. The SIT's independence will be the real test; investigations where police probe police for evidence-tampering have a poor track record in India. If the inquiry buries itself in procedure, the political cost will compound. The broader risk is that the case becomes a template for opposition campaigns ahead of Punjab's next electoral cycle, unless the government is seen to act swiftly and transparently.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the CCTV footage from Mahant Kashmir Giri's residence allegedly show?
The hidden-camera footage purportedly shows ASI Sukhdev Singh entering the mahant's room in plain clothes and placing a packet beneath a bed mattress before the official police team arrived. Police subsequently 'recovered' approximately 30 grams of heroin from the same spot during the raid.
What action has Punjab Police taken against ASI Sukhdev Singh?
Khanna SSP Darpan Ahluwalia has suspended ASI Sukhdev Singh and ordered his removal from the investigation. A Special Investigation Team headed by a Superintendent of Police-rank officer has also been constituted to probe the matter.
What happened to the charges against Mahant Kashmir Giri?
Mahant Kashmir Giri, who was arrested for alleged drug trafficking following the raid, has been cleared of the case after the hidden-camera footage raised serious doubts about the circumstances of the so-called recovery.
Why has the incident triggered a political controversy in Punjab?
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal used the footage to attack the AAP government's law and order record, posting sharply critical remarks on X. The AAP government had made curbing the drugs-police nexus a central campaign promise, making evidence-planting allegations particularly damaging.
What will the SIT investigate?
The Special Investigation Team has been tasked with verifying the authenticity of the viral video, establishing ASI Sukhdev Singh's alleged role in planting the drugs, and examining the full circumstances of the heroin recovery at Mahant Giri's residence in Khanna.
