Baltej Singh, Nephew of Indira Gandhi's Killer, Gets 22-Year Jail Term for New Zealand Drug Trafficking
A notable turn of events, Baltej Singh, nephew of Satwant Singh, one of the killers of then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has been given a 22-year jail term for his role in a major drug-trafficking case in New Zealand.
The Auckland High Court delivered the judgment, a major step in the country's war against organized crime and drug trade. Baltej Singh, a New Zealand citizen, was convicted of being a central figure in importing and distributing huge amounts of drugs, which included methamphetamine and heroin.
Baltej Singh was allegedly involved in an international sophisticated drug trafficking syndicate that ran between India, Australia, and New Zealand, said the prosecution. The syndicate smuggled large amounts of drugs into New Zealand, where they were sold to local users and distributors.
The inquiry, conducted by New Zealand Police's Organized Crime Unit, unraveled a tangled web of deals and exchanges of messages between Baltej Singh and his co-actors. Evidence that was placed before the court indicated that Baltej Singh employed encrypted communication systems and coded language to arrange for the import and supply of the drugs.
The ruling of the court was received with joy by law enforcement officials in New Zealand, who welcomed it as a major triumph in the war against organized crime. The sentence will act as a deterrent to others who engage in such activities.
It should be mentioned that Baltej Singh's family is infamous, and his uncle Satwant Singh was one of the assassins of Indira Gandhi in 1984. Satwant Singh was subsequently convicted and sentenced to death for the assassination.