IANS

New Delhi, Jun 19: Wrestler Jagdish Singh, who was arrested with banned drugs, Thursday was stripped of his Arjuna Award the government conferred on him in 1998.

Jagdish, a Punjab Police inspector, was arrested with three accomplices in Mumbai June 8 for allegedly carrying drugs worth nearly Rs.20 crore (Rs.200 million).

S.P.S. Tomar, under secretary to the government of India, in a letter asked the wrestler to return the statuette and the scroll of honour.

"I am directed to say that the Arjuna Award conferred upon you in 1998 in the discipline of wrestling is hereby withdrawn for your acts of omission and commission which led to your dismissal from Punjab Police and for having been arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau June 8 for carrying narcotics," Tomar wrote in a letter to Jagdish.

Tomar also instructed the sports ministry, Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to bring such cases to the notice of the government immediately so that appropriate action could be taken immediately, including withdrawal of Award, if deemed necessary.