India
Expressing concern for his safety, Khaira stated, “I will not be surprised if he gets me eliminated also. I sense something very, very dangerous, and I feel Bhagwant Mann will be solely responsible.”
Khaira further asserted that Bhagwant Mann is unable to tolerate the growing popularity of the Congress in Punjab and claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had arrested him in an attempt to marginalize the Congress in the state.
“I will fight back and will not get scared of them. Ultimately the truth will prevail,” Khaira vowed.
In response to Khaira’s detention, a Punjab Congress delegation is set to meet Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit at 6 p.m.
The case against Khaira stems from events in 2015 when two cases were registered in Fazilka, Punjab. One case involved the discovery of a cross-border drug smuggling network, leading to the seizure of heroin, gold biscuits, weapons, cartridges, and Pakistani SIM cards. The second case related to a fake passport racket operating in Delhi.
As the trial proceeded, nine smugglers, including Gurdev Singh, Manjit Singh, Harbans Singh, and Subhash Chander, were sentenced in October 2017 in connection with the Fazilka drug smuggling case. The charges against Khaira include supporting an international gang of smugglers, sheltering them, receiving financial benefits from drug traffickers, and benefiting from the proceeds of crime.
On February 16, 2023, the Supreme Court bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath quashed the summoning order against Khaira in the drug case.
Khaira’s arrest is expected to strain the relations between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, which have formed the INDIA alliance at the centre. The state unit of the Congress has expressed opposition to any tie-up or seat-sharing arrangement with the AAP in Punjab.
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