. NEW DELHI: Baltej Singh, nephew of Satwant Singh, one of the two bodyguards who had assassinated the then PM Indira Gandhi in Oct 1984, was running an international Meth cartel spanning Canada, India and New Zealand in cahoots with pro-Khalistan elements in these countries. The drug money was funding the so-called Khalistan movement, and Baltej was one of the masterminds and main fundraisers for the anti-India and pro-Khalistan rallies in Auckland, sources said.A probe into his pro-Khalistan drug trafficking ring is likely to begin in Canada.Arrested in Auckland in March 2023 in a case that saw massive seizure of Meth, Singh’s identity has now been officially revealed by a New Zealand court, and the case files have opened a can of worms, quite literally.The probe had kicked off in the aftermath of the reported death of a man after consuming liquor. The investigators stumbled upon a 473-ml blue-coloured beer can with the picture of a red bear and a maple leaf. An analysis of the contents of the can revealed that it was Meth.Singh (40) was arrested and produced in court, where the police said that a part of the shipment being imported by Singh contained liquid meth while the rest contained beer. After his arrest, his family tried hard to suppress his name and Khalistani links, citing that they would face threats, but the name suppression was recently lifted by the Court of Appeal in public interest.Singh was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment, with a minimum period of imprisonment of 10 years, for multiple drug offences. His associate, Himatjit Singh Kahlon, was sentenced to 21 years in prison.About the AuthorRaj Shekhar JhaRaj Shekhar Jha is a journalist for the Times of India with over a decade of experience in reporting on national security, terrorism, crime and prisons.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAmit Shah Flags Russia-China Influence During CPI, CPI(M) Formation; Slams Bhagat Singh ComparisonCensus Goes Fully Digital: How India Will Count Its Population With Apps, Data And Self-Entry’Global Oil Crisis May Push India Closer To Iran’: US Expert Robert Pape Hints Big Diplomatic Shift’India Is Now Naxal-Free’: Amit Shah Tells Lok Sabha; Hits Out At Congress, Rahul Gandhi’India Better Mediator Than Pakistan’: Israeli Envoy Says Islamabad Is Trying Hard To Be RelevantTrump Threatens To ‘Obliterate’ Iran’s Infra If No Deal; Tehran Rejects Pak’s Mediation ProposalNew Income Tax Rules Kick In From April With Same Rates, Sharper Rules And Tighter Reporting System’Congress Laid Red Carpet For Red Corridor’: Anurag Thakur Hits Out Over Naxalism’Family Of Pimps’: Pakistan Minister Khawaja Asif Loses Cool At Jaishankar’s Alleged ‘Dalal’ RemarkMiG-29 Fighter Jets Get Major Boost, Indian Air Force Plans ASRAAM Missile Integration For Combat123PhotostoriesArtemis II in pictures: NASA’s next moon mission like you have never seen before7 traditional cooling alternatives to coffee for your summer morning routineNavi Mumbai’s billionaire lanes: 5 posh localities dominating high-end real estateDiabetes and liver disease are tightly linked, study of over 9,000 Indian adult finds: Doctor answers critical questions on this hidden connectionThis island nation is Africa’s best-kept secret—and hardly anyone is visitingSridevi to Madhuri Dixit: Decoding the appeal of the sunset-hued saree and who truly owned itWorld Idli Day 2026: 8 traditional varieties of South Indian idlis that are perfect for breakfastWhy this food is called ‘poor man’s protein’ and 9 ways to consume it in summer monthsBhagavad Gita wisdom: What stays in your life without force is yours by dharma, and whatever leaves despite all efforts came only to……Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best Hollywood movies of all time: ‘The Terminator’, ‘Predator’ and more123Hot PicksIncome Tax Changes from April 1stPost office small savings schemesCandace OwensAaron RodgersIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingGold Price PredictionTrump 1987 interviewVaibhav SooryavanshiMohamad SafaCensus 2027Congress debateArticle 370Pakistan terror groupsBank Holiday this weekKharg Island
NEW DELHI: Baltej Singh, nephew of Satwant Singh, one of the two bodyguards who had assassinated the then PM Indira Gandhi in Oct 1984, was running an international Meth cartel spanning Canada, India and New Zealand in cahoots with pro-Khalistan elements in these countries. The drug money was funding the so-called Khalistan movement, and Baltej was one of the masterminds and main fundraisers for the anti-India and pro-Khalistan rallies in Auckland, sources said.A probe into his pro-Khalistan drug trafficking ring is likely to begin in Canada.Arrested in Auckland in March 2023 in a case that saw massive seizure of Meth, Singh’s identity has now been officially revealed by a New Zealand court, and the case files have opened a can of worms, quite literally.The probe had kicked off in the aftermath of the reported death of a man after consuming liquor. The investigators stumbled upon a 473-ml blue-coloured beer can with the picture of a red bear and a maple leaf. An analysis of the contents of the can revealed that it was Meth.Singh (40) was arrested and produced in court, where the police said that a part of the shipment being imported by Singh contained liquid meth while the rest contained beer. After his arrest, his family tried hard to suppress his name and Khalistani links, citing that they would face threats, but the name suppression was recently lifted by the Court of Appeal in public interest.Singh was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment, with a minimum period of imprisonment of 10 years, for multiple drug offences. His associate, Himatjit Singh Kahlon, was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
