Sirsa, Sep 30: Punjabi singer Harman Sidhu, who wrote a famous song against drug menace in Punjab, was caught with heroin on Saturday. The police arrested Harman Sidhu, along with his four associates, including a patwari (revenue field official) with 52.1 grams of heroin in Sirsa town of Haryana. They were caught at a police naka laid at the toll plaza near Bhavdeen village.

In 2015, Harman Sidhu, who hails from Mansa district of Punjab, had penned song ‘Chita’ that speaks of the ills of heroin addiction. Along with Sidhu, Ramnik Singh, patwari of Mansa, and Sirsa residents Surjit Singh, Manoj Kumar and Anurag were arrested, said Inspector Dhale Ram, the in-charge of Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) and anti-drug staff of Sirsa police.

Sidhu and his associates are not only addicted to the drug, but also suppliers to local youths, according to cops. "We are interrogating them to ascertain their source of procurement as well as the persons whom they used to supply," Inspector Dhale Ram told Times of India. He added that when caught with drug Sidhu sought pardon by saying that the case will spoil his reputation in the industry.

In his late 20s, Sidhu has released six albums so far. They all were arrested following a tip-off that a car carrying the contraband would pass the toll plaza. They have been charged with sections under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Sirsa Sadar police station.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2018 10:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).