24 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Dismissed Punjab Police AIG Rajjit Singh has been arrested after remaining absconding for nearly six years in cases linked to allegations of a police-drug nexus, extortion and disproportionate assets.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav confirmed that Singh had surrendered to the Patiala police and was formally arrested. The development comes as the state continues to face scrutiny over cases involving alleged links between sections of the police and the illegal drug trade.
Singh Had Been Wanted Since 2019
Rajjit Singh was dismissed from the police service in April 2019 following investigations into his alleged links with dismissed Inspector Inderjit Singh, who was accused of involvement in a drug-smuggling and extortion network.
Singh was subsequently booked in two cases. One case was registered by the Vigilance Bureau over allegations of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, while another case filed by the Special Task Force concerned allegations including extortion, falsely implicating people in drug cases and allegedly protecting drug smugglers.
Alleged Police-Drug Nexus
Rajjit Singh’s name became prominent during investigations into the wider case involving Inderjit Singh.
Investigations ordered following Punjab and Haryana High Court directions examined the alleged relationship between the two officers and the functioning of the police network surrounding drug-related cases.
Court records have previously referred to allegations that Rajjit Singh, while serving as a senior police officer, had allegedly facilitated the posting and continued service of Inderjit Singh despite concerns surrounding his record. These are allegations contained in investigation and court records and remain subject to the legal process.
Questions Over Failed NDPS Samples
The case also involved allegations concerning the handling of NDPS cases and forensic samples.
Earlier investigations examined claims that a large number of drug samples had failed or that reports had been delayed, potentially benefiting accused persons in drug cases. The Punjab and Haryana High Court record discussed allegations of manipulation involving forensic laboratory personnel and the alleged use of such failures to benefit suspected smugglers.
Disproportionate Assets Case
Apart from the drug-related investigation, Rajjit Singh also faced a separate Vigilance Bureau case concerning alleged assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The High Court record noted that investigators had examined property purchases by Singh and members of his family, including properties in and around SAS Nagar. The investigation alleged that some properties were undervalued and raised questions about the source of funds used for their purchase.
Arrest Warrants and Lookout Circular
After Singh failed to appear before investigators, authorities initiated steps to secure his arrest.
The High Court record shows that arrest warrants were issued in 2023, while a lookout circular was also issued as agencies attempted to trace him. Singh subsequently remained unavailable to investigators for an extended period.
Surrender Ends Long Absence
His surrender to Patiala police has now brought an end to his prolonged period as an absconder.
The circumstances surrounding the surrender and the immediate legal proceedings following his arrest are expected to become clearer as investigators proceed with the case.
Legal Proceedings Will Determine the Allegations
The allegations against Rajjit Singh have not been established merely by his arrest. The cases will proceed through the investigation and judicial process, where evidence and the specific charges against him will be examined.
Singh had previously challenged proceedings against him and raised objections concerning the investigation and the role of the state police. The courts have dealt with several aspects of his legal challenges over the years.
Why the Arrest Is Significant
The arrest is significant because the case has remained associated with one of Punjab’s most closely watched investigations into alleged links between police officials and the drug trade.
It also brings a long-running chapter of the case back into focus, with investigators now able to proceed against Singh while he is in custody.