Full Breakdown
Dismissed Punjab AIG Raj Jit Singh Hundal Arrested After Three Years on the Run
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Arrest Details
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) seized former Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Raj Jit Singh Hundar at a residence in Darshan Singh Nagar, Patiala, on the morning of September 24, 2026. Police said the operation relied on “highly technical and financial investigation” and that Hundar will be produced before a court for custodial remand. The arrest follows a September 16, 2026 Supreme Court directive ordering him to surrender.
Background & Context
Hundar’s arrest is tied to a probe into a suspected nexus between senior police officers and drug traffickers in Punjab. In 2017, Inspector Inderjit Singh was dismissed after the Special Task Force linked him to a racket that allegedly smuggled narcotics, siphoned recovered drugs for resale, and planted evidence. A three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in December 2017, examined Inderjit’s conduct and any complicity by higher-ranking officers, including Hundar, who was then Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Tarn Taran and later in Moga.
The SIT’s 2018 reports alleged that Hundar “patronised” Inderjit, used loopholes in the NDPS Act to shield traffickers, and facilitated the failure of more than 50 forensic samples. The Punjab government dismissed Hundar on April 17, 2023 and initiated criminal proceedings under the NDPS Act, the Indian Penal Code, and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 17, 2023 – Dismissal of Hundar from Punjab Police service. | |
| March 28, 2023 – High Court opened three sealed SIT reports and instructed action. | |
| August 2023 – High Court rejected anticipatory bail. | |
| May 2023 – Arrest warrants issued. | |
| July 20, 2023 – Special Leave Petition filed in Supreme Court. | |
| September 10, 2023 – Supreme Court directed surrender. | |
| September 16, 2026 – Supreme Court again ordered surrender. | |
| September 24, 2026 – ANTF arrested Hundar in Patiala. | |
| October 1 – Scheduled court hearing on surrender and possible remand. |
Data & Statistics
- More than 50 NDPS forensic samples failed during Hundar’s tenure as SSP Tarn Taran.
- The Vigilance Bureau registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act on April 20, 2023, alleging assets disproportionate to known income.
- Investigators have identified INR13 crore in unexplained transactions linked to Hundar.
- Property attachment proceedings target nine properties valued at over INR4 crore.
Official Statements & Responses
- Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police, confirmed that Hundar was formally arrested after the ANTF operation.
Criticism & Opposition
Opposition parties have questioned the three-year gap between Hundar’s dismissal and his arrest, alleging that the AAP government delayed action against senior officials linked to the drug trade. They argue the delay undermines the state’s anti-drug agenda ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the length of Hundar’s period on the run. The Tribune India article describes “nearly six years” of absconding since 2019, while other outlets (NDTV, The Print, New Indian Express, Hindustan Times) report a three-year period beginning after his April 2023 dismissal.
What’s Next
The court has scheduled a hearing for October 1, where Hundar’s counsel indicated willingness to surrender. The ANTF is expected to seek custodial remand to interrogate him on pending NDPS, corruption and money-laundering allegations. Ongoing investigations by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau and the Enforcement Directorate may lead to further asset seizures and prosecutions.