Suspended Punjab Police inspector Arshpreet Kaur declared absconder in drug bribery case
Arshpreet Kaur is accused of accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh in exchange for releasing three drug traffickers
PTC Web Desk: Once hailed as a frontline warrior during Covid-19 pandemic, Punjab Police inspector Arshpreet Kaur Grewal has now been declared a proclaimed offender (absconder) by a Moga court, nearly nine months after being suspended from service. The court's declaration came after her repeated absence from proceedings in a case involving serious allegations of bribery and aiding drug traffickers.
Arshpreet Kaur, who earlier served as Station House Officer (SHO) at Kot Ise Khan police station in Punjab’s Moga district, is accused of accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh in exchange for releasing three drug traffickers. The FIR against her was lodged under Section 209 of the IPC. Alongside her, two head constables—Gurpreet Singh from the same station and Rajpal Singh from Balkhandi outpost—were also suspended and booked for their involvement in the case.
According to the FIR registered on the complaint of Moga DSP Ramandeep Singh, the case dates back to October 1, when Arshpreet Kaur, along with the two munshis (head constables), apprehended a drug smuggler named Amarjit Singh, a resident of Datewala Road in Kot Ise Khan. During the search, the police reportedly seized 2 kg of opium from the suspect.
Further interrogation revealed that Amarjit's son Gurpreet Singh and brother Manpreet Singh were also involved in the drug trafficking operation. Instead of proceeding with legal action, the SHO and her aides allegedly accepted Rs 5 lakh in bribes and released the accused trio.
An internal departmental inquiry led by the DSP confirmed the allegations, following which all three police personnel were suspended. Arshpreet’s anticipatory bail plea was later rejected by the court.
Despite being booked, Arshpreet Kaur has remained untraceable for nine months, failing to appear in court, which eventually led to her being declared a fugitive.
Before this scandal, Arshpreet Kaur had gained recognition during the Covid-19 pandemic for her tireless service. She served as SHO at Ludhiana’s Basti Jodhewal and Division No. 2 police stations, where she led community awareness campaigns, encouraged people to fight against Covid, and even contracted the virus herself while on duty.
After recovering from Covid, she received praise from then Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who personally interacted with her via video call, boosting her morale. This video call became viral on social media and marked Arshpreet as the first SHO in Punjab to be addressed personally by a Chief Minister during the pandemic.
Punjab’s then DGP Dinkar Gupta had also shared a social media post in her honour, urging people to stay strong during Covid by citing Arshpreet’s recovery. Prominent celebrities, including Punjabi singer Ammy Virk, extended support and appreciation for her dedication during the health crisis.