Court Slams Punjab Police for Providing ‘Studio-Like Facility’ for Lawrence Bishnoi’s Interview

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has expressed concerns about the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) cancellation report regarding the Lawrence Bishnoi interview case, suggesting a possible nexus and criminal conspiracy between police officials and the gangster. The court has mandated a new investigation into Bishnoi’s 2023 interview conducted by a private channel while he was incarcerated in Bathinda jail.

The court stated, “Police officials allowed the criminal to use an electronic device and provided a studio-like facility to conduct the interview, which tends to glorify crime with the potential to facilitate other crimes, including extortion by the criminal and his associates.”

Additionally, the court criticized the state government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, for its handling of the situation, highlighting that lower-ranking officers were being unfairly scapegoated. The bench, comprising Justices Anupinder Singh Grewal and Lapita Banerji, pointed out that of the suspended officials, only two were gazetted officers, while the rest were junior staff.

“Involvement of police officials may suggest receipt of illegal gratification from the criminal or his associates and constitute offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Therefore, the case requires further investigation,” the bench remarked.

Recently, the Punjab Police suspended seven personnel, including two deputy superintendents, in relation to this case. However, the court raised concerns regarding Shiv Kumar, the former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in-charge, who had been terminated but remained on an extension.

The court questioned the rationale behind Bishnoi’s repeated transfers to the CIA in Kharar for remand and interrogation, directing the state to submit additional affidavits.

“It appears that, besides two gazetted officers, all the remaining officers are of lower rank. We had clearly mentioned in our earlier order that lower-level officers should not be made scapegoats,” the court emphasized.

Furthermore, the court pointed out the absence of an affidavit from senior officials about Bishnoi’s interview in Punjab jail. It questioned, “Why did the DGP state that no interview took place in Punjab’s jail, and why was Section 120-B of the Criminal Conspiracy Act not applied to the officers involved?”

The SIT, headed by the Special Director General of Police (Human Rights), acknowledged that one interview with Bishnoi occurred during his custody in Mohali’s Kharar, while another took place in Rajasthan. In light of these revelations, seven police personnel were suspended.

The controversy surrounding Bishnoi’s interviews intensified after videos surfaced following the murder of former Maharashtra minister and Ajit Pawar’s NCP leader, Baba Siddique, who was shot by assailants in Mumbai on October 13.