Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C has written to the Haryana Prisons Department, seeking strict vigil on Jaggu Bhagwanpuria in Kurukshetra jail following Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa’s allegation that the gangster threatened voters to influence Dera Baba Nanak assembly bypass. electoral district.

The Punjab CEO on Friday wrote to the Additional Director General (ADGP) of Haryana Prisons, seeking necessary action on priority regarding the complaint against Bhagwanpuria, who is currently lodged in Kurukshetra jail.

Sibin sent this communication after a request from Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Batala, Suhail Qasim Mir, for strict surveillance in Bhagwanpuria and enhanced preventive measures to block any external communication, in light of Randhawa’s allegations against the imprisoned gangster.

Police also suggested a detailed inspection of the inmate’s cell and adjacent areas to locate and confiscate any unauthorized mobile devices in his possession, according to people familiar with the matter.

In his letter, the CEO also highlighted the seriousness of the matter and requested immediate action, with a report being sent to him for further information to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Randhawa, a former deputy chief minister, alleged last week that Bhagwanpuria was threatening and intimidating Congress workers and others through video calls from jail to help the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He also demanded deployment of paramilitary forces for the by-election in Dera Baba Nanak. “Though these allegations have not been confirmed, the Election Commission has deployed two companies of the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections in the assembly constituency,” said one of the people mentioned above.

A district police official also said that the Gurdaspur MLA’s allegations could not be substantiated as no one came forward during the investigation to confirm receiving a call from the jailed gangster. The by-election to Dera Baba Nanak – one of the four Punjab Assembly constituencies which will be held on November 20 – is a matter of prestige for Randhawa, as his wife, Jatinder Kaur Randhawa, is the Congress candidate. She is pitted against AAP’s Gurdeep Singh Randhawa and BJP’s Ravikaran Singh Khalon, son of former Assembly Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon. The Assembly seat fell vacant after Sukhjinder Randhawa, who is also AICC in-charge for Rajasthan, was elected to the Lok Sabha from Gurdaspur in May this year.