Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, A division bench headed by justice Hemant Gupta on Thursday recused from hearing the Punjab drug case. On March 18 another bench had recused from hearing case on transfer of Enforcement Directorate official Niranjan Singh, involved in the investigations into the money laundering case in the Bhola drug racket.
Niranjan Singh was transferred to Kolkata on January 16 when he was leading a team looking into the money-laundering allegations related to the drug racket and had questioned Akali cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia among others. His transfer order had triggered a political storm, as the hand of top politicians blamed in the scandal was seen in it.
Advocates’ group Lawyers for Human Rights International, a party to the drug case, had filed an application to question the timing of the move, following which the high court had stayed the order on January 21. The stay would continue till further orders.
On February 26, the high court had asked the ED to suggest the names of some good officers who could take up the case in case Niranjan Singh was transferred. It has now directed the ED to state on affidavit the names of these officers.
The ED had submitted names of two officers in the court on March 12.
