Centre Confirms Detention of Notorious Smuggler Sandeep Singh Chatha Under PITNDPS Act
March 24, 2026
ETT News / Ludhiana
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Chandigarh Zonal Unit achieved a major legal victory on Tuesday as the Central Government confirmed the preventive detention of Sandeep Singh, alias Chatha, a notorious history-sheeter deeply entrenched in cross-border drug trafficking. Following a high-level review by the Central Advisory Board, authorities directed that Chatha remain in custody for one year under the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, 1988.
The crackdown on Chatha, a resident of Rasulpur Rohi in Amritsar, intensified after investigations revealed his role as a kingpin in a massive drug syndicate. Since 2013, Chatha has faced seven criminal cases, including three under the NDPS Act, yet he consistently managed to expand his illicit network despite repeated arrests. His operations reportedly involved a dangerous nexus with Jagdeep Singh, alias Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, a high-profile criminal known for smuggling weapons and narcotics from Jammu & Kashmir into Punjab, Delhi, and Haryana.
The move to detain Chatha follows a landmark 2022 operation where the NCB dismantled two illicit laboratories and seized a massive haul of 40 kg of heroin, along with opium and caffeine. During that raid, officials also recovered 31 live cartridges and a magazine, subsequently arresting 22 members of Chatha’s syndicate. To cripple the group’s operations, the NCB Chandigarh Zonal Unit froze assets totaling ₹58.6 crore, including properties directly linked to Chatha.
To prevent Chatha from continuing his criminal activities while out on bail, the NCB pursued a formal detention proposal in September 2025. The Central Government issued the order shortly after, and officials successfully served the detention papers to Chatha on January 7, 2026. This preventive measure serves as a proactive strike against the leadership of the narcotics trade, ensuring that key operatives cannot influence the market from behind bars.
The final confirmation of this detention came after the Central Advisory Board in New Delhi meticulously examined the case records on March 16, 2026. The Board concluded that Chatha’s continued detention was essential to curb the flow of narcotics in the region. Consequently, the Central Government’s order ensures Chatha will remain in preventive custody until January 2027, marking a significant step in the government's ongoing "zero-tolerance" policy against drug trafficking.
NCB Chandigarh Zonal Unit Sandeep Singh Chatha Preventive Detention PITNDPS Act 1988 Drug Trafficking Cross border Smuggling Heroin Seizure Illicit Laboratories 58 6 Crore Assets Jaggu Bhagwanpuria NDPS Act Amritsar Drug Syndicate Central Advisory Board N
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