Punjab & Haryana HC directs FIRs against Lawrence Bishnoi for prison interviews

Following the airing of two interviews of Lawrence Bishnoi allegedly from Bathinda jail, the State Crime Branch Police lodged two FIRs upon the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, nine months after the TV channel telecasted the interviews.
The FIRs, filed on Saturday evening, include transcripts from interviews conducted on March 14 and 17 last year. Based on Lawrence Bishnoi’s statements in these transcripts, the police have charged him and unidentified gang members for offenses such as extortion, withholding information from authorities regarding the interview location, and destroying evidence related to a mobile phone used during the March 14 interview.
In the second FIR, Lawrence and his unknown associates face charges of criminal intimidation, withholding information, and destroying evidence.
Notably, the journalist conducting the interviews for the private channel has not been charged, despite the channel being referenced. The FIRs were filed pursuant to the orders of ADGP-cum-Director, Bureau of Investigation, LK Yadav, following directives from the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued on December 23.
The High Court, rejecting a Punjab Police Special Investigation Team’s report, directed the registration of FIRs, as the team failed to conclusively establish Lawrence Bishnoi’s location during the interviews. Furthermore, a new SIT, led by Special DGP Prabodh Kumar, has been constituted to delve deeper into the case, following the court’s orders.
The interview transcripts reportedly included discussions about plotting the killing of a Bollywood star and singer Sidhu Moosewala, days before the singer’s first death anniversary. The deceased singer’s father, Balkaur Singh Sidhu, has been pressing for justice, alleging a conspiracy in these interviews. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for January 10.