Lucknow Mansion of Former Constable Puts Spotlight on ₹1,000-Crore UP Cough Syrup Smuggling Case

Lucknow, December 13, 2025: A sprawling mansion in Lucknow has become the unexpected symbol of a massive cough syrup smuggling racket in Uttar Pradesh, bringing renewed attention to former police constable Alok Pratap Singh. Investigators believe Singh played a key role in an illegal network that allegedly moved codeine-based cough syrup worth nearly ₹1,000 crore across state borders and into neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. The case came into sharp focus after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids across Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and another state earlier this month. Visuals of Singh’s palatial two-storey house in the Ahmamau area near Gomti Nagar Extension quickly went viral on social media. Officials familiar with the probe said the scale and design of the house suggested that crores of rupees were spent on its construction. Painted in light cream shades with golden highlights, the mansion stands on a plot of about 7,000 square feet close to the Lucknow–Sultanpur highway. Tall pillars, wide balconies, ornate railings, vintage-style lamps and a spiral staircase give it a grand appearance. According to preliminary assessments, the construction alone may have cost around ₹5 crore, excluding the price of the land. The ED has appointed a government-approved evaluator to determine the total value of the property. Alok Pratap Singh was arrested on December 2 and is currently lodged in Lucknow jail. While the ED is probing the money laundering angle, the Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force is investigating his alleged operational role in the smuggling network. Police sources say Singh is suspected of running two wholesale drug units, one in Uttar Pradesh and another in Jharkhand, which were allegedly used to divert prescription-only cough syrup into the illegal market. Singh’s background adds another layer to the case. A native of Chandauli district, he joined the Uttar Pradesh Police over two decades ago. In 2006, he was arrested along with others in a gold robbery case involving around four kilograms of gold. Though he was dismissed from service at the time, he was later reinstated after being acquitted due to lack of evidence. However, his career remained troubled, with multiple complaints of misconduct and assault emerging over the years. These allegations eventually led to his dismissal from the police force again in 2019. After leaving the force, Singh reportedly became a contractor and built close ties with influential political and business figures. Investigators are now examining whether these connections helped him expand his alleged illegal activities. The cough syrup racket itself came to light in February 2024, when the Uttar Pradesh government set up a joint investigation team following complaints that codeine-based medicines were being misused as intoxicants. Since then, more than 120 FIRs have been registered and at least 32 people have been arrested. The main accused, Shubham Jaiswal, is believed to have fled to Dubai. As agencies continue to follow the money trail, Singh’s mansion has emerged as a stark reminder of how deep and organised the alleged racket may be, raising serious questions about regulation, enforcement and abuse of prescription drugs. Lucknow Mansion of Former Constable Puts Spotlight on ₹1,000-Crore UP Cough Syrup Smuggling Case A grand house in Lucknow has suddenly become the centre of attention in one of Uttar Pradesh’s biggest drug-related investigations. The mansion belongs to Alok Pratap Singh, a dismissed police constable who is now accused of being part of a massive cough syrup smuggling racket worth nearly ₹1,000 crore. The case came into focus after the Enforcement Directorate carried out raids across several states earlier this month. Soon after, videos of Singh’s lavish two-storey home in the Ahmamau area near Gomti Nagar Extension went viral. Officials believe the house, spread over nearly 7,000 square feet near the Lucknow–Sultanpur highway, was built at a cost of around ₹5 crore, not including the land value. Tall pillars, wide balconies, a spiral staircase and decorative lights give the home a palace-like look. Alok Pratap Singh was arrested on December 2 and is currently in Lucknow jail. The ED is investigating the money laundering angle, while the Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force is probing his alleged role in the illegal network. Investigators claim Singh operated two wholesale drug units in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand that were used to divert codeine-based cough syrup into the black market. These medicines, meant to be sold only on prescription, were allegedly smuggled across states and even into Nepal and Bangladesh. Singh’s past has also raised eyebrows. He joined the UP Police over 20 years ago but was arrested in 2006 in a gold robbery case. Though he was later reinstated, repeated complaints of misconduct led to his dismissal again in 2019. After that, he reportedly became a contractor and built strong connections. The racket was uncovered in early 2024. Over 120 FIRs have been filed and 32 people arrested so far. As the probe continues, Singh’s mansion has become a symbol of the scale of this alleged crime.