The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided several locations in Uttar Pradesh in a money laundering case related to the illegal codeine-based cough syrup racket. One place that was especially discussed in these raids was that luxurious house located in Lucknow, in which a dismissed constable lived. This constable is Alok Pratap Singh, who was arrested in Lucknow a few days ago. He is currently lodged in Lucknow jail and is on 55-hour police remand.
ED officials reached this grand residence spread over 7,000 square feet located in Ahimamau area near Lucknow-Sultanpur Highway. This area comes under Gold City Police Station. The officers searched here for about five hours. Although the agency has not officially disclosed the recovery, but according to sources the team has seized many documents and electronic devices.
It is being told that Alok was living in this house with his family for some time. This two storeyed grand building painted in light cream color is situated a few kilometers away from Gomti Nagar Extension. It has high pillars, decorated railings and a wide balcony on the top floor. The ground floor has large glass windows with old style lights and a large porch in front. On the right side there is a covered parking area, where a motorcycle is parked, and from there there are winding stairs to go up. There is also a decorative gate and a row of plants outside.
According to ED sources, it is clearly visible that crores of rupees have been spent in the construction of this property. The agency has engaged a government-approved property valuer to accurately assess the purchase and construction cost of the house, as well as the expenditure on luxury interiors. This will enable us to find out how much illegal money has been used in this property. However, in the preliminary investigation, the construction cost alone has been estimated at around Rs 5 crore, which does not include the cost of the land.
role in syndicate
On December 2, the Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh Police had arrested Alok a short distance from his house in a case related to the syrup scam. According to the police, he was part of this illegal network and allegedly operated two wholesale drug units in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, working in collaboration with others associated with the syndicate.
His role in this racket was revealed during the interrogation of another accused Amit Kumar Singh alias Amit Tata, who was arrested in Lucknow on November 27. While UP Police is investigating the matter, ED has also registered a complaint and started investigation.
Who is Alok Singh?
Virendra Pratap Singh, resident of Kaithi in Chandauli district, has three sons. Mandhata Singh, Alok Singh alias W and Bambu Singh. Alok had studied from the primary school of the village till class 3 in 1982. After this, he studied from Khandwari School in Chahaniya till class seven. His father was a postmaster in the post office in Lucknow. After the seventh standard, he went to live with his father in Lucknow. Joined the police there.
‘Arrest dismissed twice in 2006’
Alok, a resident of Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh, has been in controversies earlier also. According to the police, his first criminal case came to light in 2006, when he was posted with the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Lucknow. In September the same year, he along with six other people, including four policemen, was arrested for looting 4 kg of gold from an employee of a businessman in Prayagraj. Alok was dismissed from service due to his involvement in this case. Later, after being acquitted by the court due to lack of evidence, he was reinstated in police service on the orders of the court. After rejoining the service, new allegations of dereliction of duty and misconduct were leveled against him. In many complaints, allegations of assault with people also surfaced against him. On the basis of these allegations, he was dismissed from service for the second time in 2019.
After this, according to sources, Alok allegedly went into contracting business and was often seen with politically influential people. Some of his pictures also surfaced with a former BSP MP, which intensified speculations about his growing network.
the whole matter
In February last year, the UP government had formed a joint investigation team comprising STF and Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) to investigate the allegations. There were allegations that cough syrup and other codeine-based drugs were being stored illegally, sold as intoxicants and smuggled from Uttar Pradesh to Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, West Bengal including Bangladesh and Nepal.
Till now, a total of 128 FIRs have been registered in 31 districts of UP and 32 people have been arrested. According to the police, the main accused Shubham Jaiswal has absconded to Dubai with his family. His father Bhola Jaiswal was arrested earlier this month.
A three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed, headed by an IG rank officer, to investigate the illegal storage, sale and smuggling of codeine-based cough syrup and other drugs. Till now the police have seized about 3.5 lakh bottles of codeine syrup, whose market value is said to be around Rs 4.5 crore.
