Jalandhar, October 10, 2026: The investigation into the alleged betting operation in Jalandhar’s Phagwara Gate area has become embroiled in a fresh controversy after a private vehicle owner raised questions over the alleged use of his car by police while transporting accused for medical examination.
Police Station Division No. 3 had raided premises linked to Monu in the Phagwara Gate area two days earlier. During the operation, police reportedly recovered a computer, four mobile phones, documents and other material. Around 14 people present at the spot were also rounded up for questioning.
The latest issue surfaced when police took Monu and other accused for their mandatory medical examination. Jashandeep Singh, the owner of a private vehicle allegedly used during the process, has now come forward with his version of events and sought clarification from senior police officials.
According to Jashandeep, police personnel initially approached him and said they required his vehicle to transport an accused. He claimed he agreed to provide the car along with his driver.
Jashandeep alleged that some time later, additional police personnel arrived, asked his driver to get out of the vehicle and then took the car themselves. He said this left him concerned because several important documents and personal belongings were still inside the vehicle.
The vehicle owner said he was worried about any possible damage, accident or other incident involving the car while it remained away from his control. He maintained that the police administration should be responsible if anything happened to the vehicle or the belongings kept inside it.
Jashandeep said he subsequently decided to speak publicly about the incident. According to him, Constable Amarjeet told him that he was free to give his version to the media and there was no objection to him doing so.
Questions were later put to Police Station Division No. 3 SHO Jagdish Lal regarding the alleged use of the private vehicle. According to the account available with The Jalandhar Times, the SHO initially denied that police personnel had used a privately owned car.
When informed that the vehicle owner had given a video statement regarding the incident, the conversation reportedly shifted towards seeking cooperation over the ongoing investigation.
The conflicting versions have now raised questions about the circumstances in which the vehicle was used and whether any formal permission, requisition or other documentation was completed before the car was taken.
The presence of accused persons in a private vehicle does not by itself establish misconduct by police. However, clarity from senior officers regarding why the vehicle was used, who authorised it and whether the owner’s consent remained in place throughout the process could help address the concerns raised.
The underlying case relates to the alleged betting operation at Phagwara Gate, where police initially rounded up 14 people during the raid. The accused remain subject to investigation, and their criminal responsibility can only be determined through the legal process.
The dispute over the vehicle is a separate procedural issue and should not be treated as proof either against the accused or against the police personnel involved.
Jashandeep Singh has sought an impartial examination of the matter and said he wants clarity regarding the circumstances in which his private vehicle allegedly came to be used during official police action.
At the time of publication, a detailed written clarification from senior Commissionerate Police officials regarding the vehicle owner’s allegations was awaited.
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