Khanna police took major action on Monday by razing an illegal construction belonging to Gurdeep Singh Rano, a former sarpanch and alleged kingpin of a multi-crore drug trafficking racket.
The operation was conducted by the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) in collaboration with the Khanna police.
A significant portion of the palatial house, spread over nearly 11 kanal and 11 marla in Rano village, Payal, was declared illegal by GLADA and subsequently demolished as per rules.
On the occasion, District Town Planner (Regulatory), GLADA, Pradeep Kumar, said that under the directions of Additional Chief Administrator, GLADA, Vikas Hira, and in accordance with government guidelines, a team from GLADA Ludhiana, along with the Khanna district police force, demolished the unauthorised construction belonging to Gurdeep Singh Rano of Rano village in Payal tehsil of Ludhiana district.
Following directions from senior police officers, a comprehensive security plan was put in place, with police personnel deployed at every point of the property to prevent any untoward incident.
DSP Payal Harmanpreet Singh Cheema said that as many as 10 cases, including those related to drug smuggling and other serious offences, have been registered against Gurdeep Singh Rano. He added that the Punjab government’s policy is crystal clear — drug traffickers will not be spared at any cost. While such criminals are being brought to justice, strict action is also being taken against properties acquired through the illicit drug trade.
In the past few months, properties worth crores of rupees have been attached in the district, and police force has been provided to demolish several illegal constructions, SSP Khanna Dr Ahluwalia said. He added that the police have not only ensured the arrest of drug smugglers but have also worked on a strategy to dismantle their financial networks.
The SSP further informed that the police are not only acting against drug traffickers but are also running a special campaign to rehabilitate youth affected by drug addiction by sending them to de-addiction centres for treatment and helping them reintegrate into mainstream society.
According to police officials, Gurdeep Singh Rano was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) in 2020 with a huge quantity of heroin (around five kg). During the investigation, a large drug trafficking network with alleged cross-border links was exposed, leading to several important revelations.
In March 2026, a team of GLADA and the police had reached Rano’s luxury mansion to conduct on-site measurements of the entire property, including the boundary walls.
