Former Enforcement Directorate (ED) Deputy Director Niranjan Singh has questioned the surrender of dismissed Punjab Police AIG Raj Jit Singh, alleging that it was carefully negotiated and timed ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections due next year.Raj Jit Singh, who was facing cases linked to an alleged drug-smuggling and extortion racket, surrendered before the Patiala police. He had been absconding since 2023.Niranjan Singh, who was among the officers to initiate an investigation into Raj Jit Singh, questioned why he had not been arrested earlier if, as he alleged, the former police officer had remained in the area.“The surrender shows that he was present all along. Then why was he not arrested earlier? Who was protecting him and who gave him shelter? Once these names are made public, the entire unholy nexus involving drug trafficking and sections of the police will be exposed before the people,” he said.Niranjan alleged that the surrender could not have taken place without careful planning to protect Raj Jit Singh’s interests. He also called for the names of those who allegedly helped him evade arrest to be made public.The former ED official said he had initiated inquiries into Raj Jit Singh’s alleged links with the drug trade, but the file was later taken away by the Centre. He said he had also written to the Finance Minister during and after his service, highlighting the alleged drug network, but no action was taken.Niranjan further alleged that influential police officials had protected Raj Jit Singh and that the surrender might have been intended to prevent disclosures involving former and serving Punjab Police officers.Niranjan, who has been associated with investigations into Punjab’s drug networks, also extended support to Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), led by Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh. He alleged that Punjab’s drug problem was persisting because of a nexus involving politicians, police officials and organised criminal networks. He accused the Centre and the Punjab Government of failing to effectively tackle the issue.