Niranjan Singh joins Akali Dal Waris Punjab De

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Former ED deputy director Niranjan Singh joins Waris Punjab De, citing drug menace, corruption and law-and-order concerns in the state 

Chandigarh, September 23

Former Enforcement Directorate (ED) Deputy Director Niranjan Singh on Wednesday joined the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De at the Chandigarh Press Club on Wednesday, citing concerns over Punjab’s drug menace, corruption and law and order. Former Punjab Police DSP Balwinder Singh Sekhon also joined the party at the event.

Niranjan Singh was welcomed into the party in the presence of senior leaders including Tarsem Singh, father of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali. Ayali said Singh’s joining would strengthen the party and recalled his work against the drug menace.

While addressing the media , Niranjan Singh said he had not considered himself a political person and had previously had no desire to enter politics. He said society needed to question those in authority and stand up for Punjab’s interests. He said corruption and the drug mafia were major concerns in Punjab and called for greater accountability among political leaders and government officials. He also stressed the need for collective efforts against drugs without discrimination based on religion, caste or identity.

Before joining the party, former Enforcement Directorate (ED) Deputy Director  said that successive governments had failed to address the drug problem despite repeated promises. He said he had decided to join Waris Punjab De after a meeting with Ayali and Tarsem Singh at his Jalandhar residence.

Niranjan Singh had served for a long period at the ED’s Jalandhar office and handled several high-profile investigations. He was associated with the money-laundering investigation into the drug racket linked to dismissed Punjab Police DSP Jagdish Singh Bhola. He also investigated cases involving drug traffickers Raja Kandola and Anoop Kahlon.

During the Bhola drug-money-laundering investigation, he questioned then Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in December 2014. His subsequent transfer from Jalandhar to Kolkata in January 2015 was challenged, and the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the transfer. He was promoted from Assistant Director to Deputy Director in 2016 and retired from the ED on May 31, 2021. He has since remained vocal on issues concerning drugs and related investigations in Punjab.

Asked whether he would contest the forthcoming Assembly elections, Niranjan Singh said he had not yet decided to enter the electoral fray. Reports about a possible candidature from Kartarpur have also emerged, though no such decision has been formally announced by the party.