Punjab Police's ₹50 Crore Drug Money Laundering Exposed Through RTI

A trove of internal Punjab Police documents obtained through RTI applications has exposed a sophisticated money laundering operation where officers diverted over ₹50 crores from drug seizures to purchase personal property and fund political campaigns.

The RTI Breakthrough

After 18 months of persistent RTI applications and appeals, we finally obtained crucial documents from the Punjab Police’s Special Task Force that reveal:

Financial Trail Evidence

₹52.3 crores in drug seizure money unaccounted for between 2019-2023
127 property purchases by police officers during same period
Bank account details showing cash deposits matching seizure dates
Property registrations in family members’ names to avoid detection

Document Destruction Pattern

Systematic deletion of digital seizure records after 6 months
Missing physical files for 89% of major drug busts
Altered seizure amounts in official records vs. actual recoveries
Fake disposal certificates for destroyed evidence

How the Scam Worked

Stage 1: Seizure Manipulation

During drug raids, officers would:

Report lower amounts than actually seized
Keep excess cash and drugs unreported
Create false documentation for “destroyed” evidence
Split profits among team members

Stage 2: Money Laundering

The stolen money was then:

Deposited in small amounts across multiple bank accounts
Used to purchase agricultural land through benami transactions
Invested in family businesses to create legal income sources
Channeled to political parties as “donations” for protection

Stage 3: Evidence Destruction

To cover tracks:

Digital records automatically deleted after 6 months
Physical evidence “destroyed” according to fake court orders
Witness statements modified or disappeared
Investigation files transferred to create confusion

Key Players Identified

Senior Officers Involved

DIG Ramesh Kumar Sharma - ₹12 crore in property purchases
SP Manjit Singh Dhillon - 8 farmhouse acquisitions
ASP Gurpreet Kaur - Family business expansion worth ₹5 crores

Political Connections

Our investigation reveals payments to:

Local MLAs for “protection” from transfers
State ministers for policy influence
Opposition leaders for “insurance” against government changes

The RTI Battle

Obtaining this evidence required extraordinary persistence:

Initial Denials

Applications denied claiming “ongoing investigation” exemption
Information labeled as “confidential” under Section 8(1)(h)
Multiple transfers between departments to delay responses

Legal Strategy

23 separate RTI applications targeting different aspects
Appeals filed with Punjab Information Commission
High Court intervention when commission delayed hearings
Cross-verification through Central agencies

Breakthrough Documents

Key evidence came from:

Internal audit reports leaked by whistleblower officers
Bank statements obtained through separate financial RTI
Property registration documents from revenue department
Phone records revealing coordination patterns

Systemic Corruption Indicators

This Punjab case reveals broader patterns we’ve documented nationwide:

Drug Money Diversion

Karnataka: ₹30 crore cocaine seizure money missing
Maharashtra: Officers purchasing luxury vehicles post drug raids
Rajasthan: Systematic under-reporting of opium seizures

Evidence Manipulation

Delhi Police: 60% drug case files incomplete or missing
UP Police: Automatic digital record deletion systems
Tamil Nadu: Fake court orders for evidence destruction

Political Protection

Officers with corruption allegations receiving choice postings
Investigation transfers when cases get “too big”
Political interference in departmental action committees

Legal Consequences

Based on this RTI evidence:

Criminal Cases Filed

Disproportionate Assets cases against 12 officers
Money Laundering investigation by ED initiated
Criminal conspiracy charges for evidence destruction
Corruption cases under Prevention of Corruption Act

Departmental Action

Suspension of 15 officers pending investigation
Transfer of entire Special Task Force leadership
New evidence preservation protocols mandated
Independent oversight committee established

Public Impact

This investigation has triggered:

Policy Changes

Mandatory video recording of all drug seizures
Digital evidence preservation for minimum 10 years
Real-time seizure reporting to multiple agencies
Independent audit of all drug-related operations

Political Fallout

Opposition demands for Home Minister’s resignation
Assembly questions about department accountability
CBI investigation demanded by civil society groups
International attention to Punjab’s drug problem

Lessons for RTI Activists

This case demonstrates crucial RTI strategies:

Persistence Pays

Multiple applications from different angles
Cross-verification through various departments
Legal backing when authorities stonewall
Whistleblower protection and encouragement

Strategic Documentation

Financial records provide strongest evidence
Property transactions leave permanent trails
Bank account analysis reveals patterns
Multiple independent sources strengthen cases

Public Pressure Works

Media attention accelerates official responses
Political cost of covering up increases
Civil society support provides protection
Legal challenges force compliance

Ongoing Investigation

Our work in Punjab continues:

Expanded Scope

Investigating similar patterns in neighboring states
Tracking political donations linked to seized money
Examining judicial disposal of drug cases
Reviewing transfer patterns of investigating officers

Collaboration

Working with international anti-corruption organizations
Sharing intelligence with central investigating agencies
Supporting affected families seeking justice
Training local activists in financial RTI techniques

Future Targets

Customs department drug seizure records
Airport authority suspicious activity reports
Banking sector suspicious transaction reports
Political party donation source verification

Call to Action

Punjab’s drug money laundering exposes how corruption festers in darkness. RTI brought this ₹50 crore scam to light, but citizen vigilance is essential to prevent future abuse.

What You Can Do:

File RTI applications about drug seizures in your area
Monitor property purchases by local police officers
Report suspicious patterns to investigating agencies
Support transparency in law enforcement

The Punjab Police thought their money laundering operation was untouchable. RTI proved them wrong. When citizens demand transparency, even the most sophisticated corruption schemes crumble.

This investigation continues. More revelations will follow.

This report is based on 200+ pages of RTI documents, financial records analysis, and extensive ground reporting. RTI Blog is committed to exposing corruption wherever it hides.