The Punjab Police is likely to question Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh for his reported links with alleged NRI drug smuggler Anoop Singh Kahlon,alias Ruby,on Monday. Meanwhile,the National Institute of Sports (NIS),Patiala,today expelled Vijenders sparring partner Ram Singh from its training camp. Highly placed sources in the Punjab Police said Vijender will be questioned either at the Haryana Police headquarters in Panchkula or the Punjab Police headquarters in Chandigarh. Sources said Vijender had contacted the Punjab Police through Haryana Police officials and agreed to being questioned. The NISs decision to expel Ram Singh,a former national champion in the super heavyweight category,came a day after he admitted on Saturday that he and Vijender had tried heroin for fun three or four times. Changing his statement today,Ram Singh,who was questioned by the Punjab Police for the third day,said he and Vijender mistook heroin for a food supplement and consumed it. He,however,added that he had consumed the food supplement by inhaling it. He even warned other sportspersons not to make a similar mistake. We have got orders to expel Ram Singh from Monday. He was the 51st member of the boxing camp and we had given him special permission on the recommendation of Vijender Singh. Now,after he has admitted to taking drugs,we have taken the decision after consulting higher officials and coaches. We will also conduct a check of the premises, said NIS director L S Ranawat. He added that the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is expected to conduct dope tests at NIS. Ranawat also rubbished Ram Singhs claim that he had mistaken heroin for a food supplement. We have given them a list of 45 food supplements which they can procure on their own and seek reimbursement, he said. We have full faith in the investigation and whatever happened is unfortunate. Ram Singh did admit to taking drugs and the officials took the decision (on the expulsion) in the interest of the other athletes, said national coach Gurbax Singh Sandu. Vijender could not be contacted today as his cellphone remained switched off. The police had earlier sent Ram Singhs hair,blood and urine samples to the Civil Hospital,Fatehgarh Sahib,to check for drugs. While sources said the reports have come in,their contents were not disclosed. In a related development,the police today arrested one more person,Sunil Katyal,from Ludhiana. SSP Hardayal Singh Mann said Katyal,who worked in a factory in Ludhiana,tested the purity and quality of drugs sent to him by Manpreet Singh,alias Mani,a co-accused in the case. Mani and his accomplice Gabbar Singh were arrested by the police on Friday. Katyal reportedly told the police that he had met Mani and Gabbar two years ago and tested drug samples for them. The police also conducted raids at various places in Mohali,Phagwara and Fatehgarh Sahib to nab Jagdish Bhola,the alleged kingpin of the international drug trade racket. Two persons were detained in this connection. According to sources,Kahlon,Vijender and Ram Singh are likely to be brought face to face during Vijenders questioning. Yesterday,the police had found that Vijender was in regular touch with Kahlon on the phone. As many as 12 calls were exchanged between Vijender and Kahlon and over 50 calls were exchanged between Kahlon and Ram Singh in the past one month. Sources said Vijender was also a regular visitor at Kahlons house in Zirakpur,from where Rs 130 crore worth of contraband was recovered. The boxers car registered in his wifes name was found parked near the house of the alleged drug smuggler when the arrest was made. Vijender has denied any links with Kahlon. He has claimed that he had lent his car to Ram Singh before going to Mumbai. With inputs from Nitin Sharma
