Sangrur Jail Drug Smuggling Racket Busted; DSP Among 19 Held
In a shocking breach of prison security that has sent shockwaves through the state’s law enforcement apparatus, the Punjab Police on Wednesday busted a meticulously-run smuggling racket operating from inside Sangrur jail — unmasking the rot festering within the very walls meant to contain crime. The operation led to the arrest of Jail’s Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Security, Gurpreet Singh — a high-ranking officer who allegedly facilitated the inflow of drugs and mobile phones into the prison in exchange for digital and cash payments routed via his family members’ UPI accounts.
Unsurmountable jail walls are not so, it seems — not when those tasked with guarding them collude with criminals. Also arrested was a Class-IV employee, identified as Parshant, who played a key role in the logistics of this illicit enterprise. The arrests marked a significant escalation in Punjab's ongoing crackdown on the drug menace under the ‘Yudh Nashiyaan Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign initiated by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Government.
The magnitude of the breach came to light during a surprise search operation inside Sangrur Jail, triggered by actionable intelligence inputs. The state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav revealed that the raid led to the recovery of 12 mobile phones, four smartwatches, 50 grams of opium, 12 grams of heroin, and other contraband. But the real shocker came with the arrest of the jail’s own DSP.
“This is an unpardonable betrayal of duty. We are committed to a zero-tolerance policy, and no individual — regardless of their position — will be spared if found colluding with criminal elements,” DGP Yadav said.
Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sartaj Singh Chahal, provided details, said that the accused DSP Gurpreet Singh had accepted Rs 40,000 in cash from a relative of inmate Gurchet, in addition to Rs 26,000 transferred via UPI into the account of his wife. This money was paid to smuggle 25 grams of heroin and two mobile phones into the jail. Of the smuggled heroin, 12 grams were recovered from another inmate, Ravi, who was allegedly selling the contraband within the prison on Gurchet’s instructions.
With mobile phones freely circulating among inmates and drugs being peddled behind bars, the Sangrur Jail had effectively been turned into a nerve centre for criminal operations. As per the police, DSP Gurpreet Singh was not a passive accomplice but an active participant — controlling the flow of smuggled items and receiving payments to enable the smooth passage of banned substances.
Following the arrest of the jail officials, the investigation quickly expanded to expose external links. The police apprehended Manpreet Singh, an Amritsar-based drug smuggler and associate of inmate Gurvinder Singh, who is currently lodged in Sangrur Jail. From Manpreet’s possession, the police recovered a staggering four kilograms of heroin, Rs 5.5 lakh in drug money, a Glock 9MM pistol, and two live cartridges — signaling the dangerous reach of the racket.
The network, it appears, was well-oiled and deeply entrenched — running through prison staff, external handlers, and a cadre of inmates coordinating operations from within. A total of 19 individuals have been arrested so far, including DSP Gurpreet Singh, Class-IV employee Parshant, Manpreet Singh, and 15 inmates. Additionally, Banto alias Banso, mother of inmate Gurchet, has also been apprehended for facilitating transactions.
The police have registered an FIR, dated April 27, 2025, at Police Station City-1 Sangrur, under multiple provisions of the NDPS Act (Sections 18, 21, 27A, and 29), Section 52-A of the Prisons Act, and Section 25 of the Arms Act. Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act has also been invoked, underscoring the gravity of official involvement.
DGP Yadav confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with more arrests and disclosures expected. “This is just the tip of the iceberg. We are determined to uncover every layer of this nexus and dismantle it completely,” he said.
The shocking revelations from Sangrur Jail have added a grim new dimension to Punjab’s decades-long struggle with drug trafficking — one that highlights not just the external threats from cross-border smugglers, but also the internal decay within the state’s security system. While the 'Yudh Nashiyaan Virudh' campaign has seen an aggressive push to cut supply chains and arrest peddlers, cases like these raise questions about systemic integrity.
: Unsurmountable Walls Breached: Jail Smuggling Racket Busted
• Punjab Police bust drug racket operating from inside Sangrur Jail
• DSP (Jail Security) arrested for smuggling drugs and phones
• Class-IV employee arrested for aiding the racket
• 12 phones, 4 smartwatches, opium, and heroin recovered in jail raid
• Amritsar-based smuggler caught with 4 kg heroin and a Glock pistol
• DSP received bribes via UPI transfers to family accounts
• Total 19 people arrested, including 15 inmates and an inmate’s mother
• Payments made to sneak heroin and phones into the jail
• DGP vows strict action against all, regardless of rank
• More arrests and recoveries expected as probe continues
