SGPC Official To Serve 6 Months for Possessing Opium

Posted: 11 Aug 2016

Roopnagar District Court’s Special Judge Sunita Kumari Sharma has announced six months imprisonment and fine to a principal and her husband in case of opium recovery under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act.
Notably, Harjit Sidhu has been fined in the drug recovery case.  She is the Deputy Director of SGPC Education Department and Principal of Bhai Nand Lal Public School at Sri Anandpur Sahib.  In 2009, Sidhu and her husband, Jagjit, were found guilty.
Both have to pay fine of Rs. 10,000 each.
In June 2009, both were stopped by the Ropar police at the Nangal Chownk during a routine inspection.  Police recover 1 kg of opium from their car.  While Jagjit was booked under Sections 18, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act, later during the trial, Harjit Sidhu was also booked as a co-accused but given bail in the case.
Harjit stated that she has been sentenced due to pressure by “influential people”.  She said her family would approach the Punjab Chief Minister.  Earlier, the Home department had asked the then SSP LK Yadav to cancel the FIR against Harjit and her husband as it was registered under political influence.  The Home Department declared both as innocent despite the ruling by the court.