New Delhi: A relative of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassin was arrested on charges of drug peddling in New Zealand, news agency ANI reported. According to the report, Auckland Police busted a drug peddling racket, and investigation led to Baltej Singh, who is a nephew of Satwant Singh, who along with Beant Singh had assassinated former prime minister Indira Gandhi.
According to a report by the New Zealand Herald, New Zealand Police said that Auckland City’s Organised Crime Unit had been investigating a shipment of kombucha bottles among pallets of drug-laced beer cans, that resulted in a search warrant executed in Ryan Place, Manukau in early March.
Police said officers had identified 328kgs of methamphetamine concealed in beer cans.
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As per the report, Baltej Singh is known to be one of the primary masterminds and fundraisers for anti-India and pro-Khalistan movements organised in New Zealand. Baltej Singh is currently imprisoned and is undergoing trial on drug peddling charges.
It is to be noted that Satwant Singh’s brother and his family had relocated to New Zealand in the 1980s and had set up a small grocery store in Auckland. Local gurdwaras often hailed Baltej for being the nephew of Satwant Singh.
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However, a sudden increase in the wealth of the Singhs came to the notice of people close to them. Baltej Singh’s father, who is Satwant Singh’s brother, became the proprietor of a real estate firm called Ray White. They also bought a house valued more than Rs 100 crore.
According to reports, the incident highlights the “criminal background and dubious motivations” of pro-Khalistan demonstrators and also shows the role of “overseas support in attempts to tarnish the image of a progressive India.”