Trader’s kidnapping: Mansa DSP transferred, ‘helped’ in paying ransom

In what could severely dent the credibility of Mansa police, a serving deputy superintendent of police (DSP) has been transferred for allegedly helping a trader’s family in paying ransom to his abductors.

“On August 20, DSP Surendra Sharma, who was one of the team members monitoring the case, allegedly sent his private staff along with one of the family members to Maur branch of SBOP (State Bank of Patiala) to change denomination of notes, which were to the tune of Rs 30 lakh,” confirmed sources from criminal investigation department (CID).

Later the Bathinda vigilance department took notice of case and procured CCTV footage of the said branch. The residence of DSP was raided by the vigilance department on Thursday and later he was transferred to Barnala. DSP Sharma has denied his involvement in helping the abductors. “It is all cooked up by vigilance department,” said DSP Sharma. “The trader’s family had visited the bank on their own and I have no idea about it,” added DSP Sharma.

The trader from Budhlada, Chiman Lal, 50, who stayed in captivity for more than 15 days returned safely on August 20 without the assistance and knowledge of district police.

The trader was allegedly dropped by an Innova car at his residence on the same day, when denomination of notes was changed in the SBOP Maur branch.

The abduction case was monitored by DIG Yurinder Singh Hayer. The cops are still clueless whether the family had paid a ransom of `1 crore as demanded by the abductors.

“He is depressed and we are trying to nab the accused. We will soon arrest the kidnappers,” said SSP Mukhwinder Singh. The SSP confirmed that the vigilance bureau had visited DSP’s residence but denied that it was any sort of ‘raid’.

The vigilance SP Bhupinder Singh who raided DSP Sharma’s residence has denied changing cash denomination in the bank. “We have not taken any CCTV footage nor have we raided the residence of DSP Surendra Sharma,” said SP Singh. There is a buzz in the town that the family of the trader had paid a ransom of around `40 lakh after which he was released.