JALANDHAR: An upcoming Punjabi singer  Gurmit Nagra was Friday arrested by Punjab police on the charges of smuggling of opium and recovered four kilogram opium from his possession. The police said that one of singer's friend Jagdip Singh has also been arrested with 500 gm opium.

Sarabjit Singh S.P. City, Jalandhar said that singer Hurmit Nagra is resident of village Kuhala. His first cassette 'Tera Nakhra' was a flop and he became indebted. Nagra had started the smuggling of opium to collect money for clearing his debt and bring out the next cassette "Piyar Wale Pal" .  He had sung a song "Peengh Ambra te Pai Gayee' in news years programme "Jashan 2007' telecast by Doordarshan Jalandhar.

He had reportedly spent Rs.20 lakh on his first cassette released by Jaavi Cassette company. He had taken money from his brother and freinds living in USA. He told the polie that owners of PMC company had demanded Rs.10 lakh from him to bring out his new cassettee.

According to police Nagra was bringing Opium from a person named Mangal Singh from Madhya Pardesh and so far had brought three  consignments of five kg each. He had already sold ten kg opium. He was buying opium at the rate of Rs.25000 per kg and it was sold for Rs.45000 per kg in retail market. Interestingly, he had started smuggling of opium after taking a loan of Rs.one lakh.

Police has nabbed the singer at a naka when he tried to fled on being stopped. Police has also impounded his car. He and his coaccused have been sent to Joint Interogation centre at Amritsar for further investigation.