Who is Gurinderjit Singh Nagra? Punjab SHO under FBI scanner in alleged Rs 3.3 crore extortion case in US
PTC Web Desk: Gurinderjit Singh Nagra, a Punjab Police officer who was serving as the Station House Officer (SHO) of Tanda Police Station in Hoshiarpur district, has found himself at the centre of an international investigation after being named by the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in an alleged extortion case.
The FBI has accused Nagra of attempting to extort $400,000 (approximately Rs 3.3 crore) from an Indian-origin family living in the United States. According to the agency, the family was allegedly threatened with criminal action in India unless the money was paid.
The allegations have prompted immediate action by the Punjab Police. Nagra has been removed from his position as SHO and transferred to the Police Lines while a departmental inquiry into the matter is conducted.
According to the FBI, the Punjab cop allegedly pressured members of the family by threatening to implicate them in a murder case in India. Investigators claim the threats were intended to force the family into paying a large sum of money to avoid legal trouble.
The US agency has made details of the case public through its Los Angeles office and has also released an official statement outlining the allegations.
The Punjab Police have initiated an internal investigation following the FBI's allegations. Jalandhar Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Navjot Singhla said the inquiry has been shifted outside Hoshiarpur to ensure transparency and an impartial investigation. The case has now been assigned to officials in Jalandhar.
Superintendent of Police (Detective) Vineet Ahlawat has been tasked with conducting a detailed inquiry and submitting a report to senior officers after examining all aspects of the allegations.
Police officials have stated that further action will depend on the findings of the departmental investigation.
The case has also triggered political reactions in Punjab. Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia expressed concern over the allegations, saying the episode could tarnish the image of the Punjab Police. He remarked that international agencies had earlier focused on gangsters operating from abroad, but it was now a serving Punjab Police official who had come under the FBI's scanner.
- With inputs from agencies
