Punjab and Haryana High Court has condemned Punjab Police for alleged connivance with the gangster Lawrence Bishnoi who was caught on tape using senior police officer’s chamber as a studio for a television interview. Bench of Justices Anupinder Singh Grewal and Lapita Banerji said that a fresh SIT be constituted to investigate into alleged nexus between the police officials and Bishnoi. The court also stressed that the earlier SIT set by the Special DGP Prabodh Kumar failed to investigate other alleged offences that happened during police excesses.
The court said that police enabled the interview where officers provided electronic gadgets and environment to Bishnoi to boast about crime including intimidation to commit more crimes such as extortion. This could mean that there are gratification, and violations which come under the bar under the Prevention of Corruption Act, a matter requiring investigation.
Bar and Bench reported the court’s remarks: The police officers let the criminal recording with electronic devices and a studio-like setting to do an interview promoting crime and may lead to other crimes. This may suggest have received backsh that is unlawful and various offenses under the_using Prevention of Corruption Act.
The court cranked up the examination after the previous SIT submitted a cancellation report that downplayed additional charges but confirmed that the interview occured within the CIA office in Kharar. Some of the deficiencies seen by the police personnel were quite startling to the court. It was in an interview with ABP News in March 2023 that Bishnoi, believed to have orchestrated Sidhu Moosewala’s murder explained how the plan was executed. According to the court, CIA premises together with official Wi-Fi was used indicating a possible wider conspiracy which could include a financial consideration. New SIT is intended to investigate under the Prevention of Corruption Act to make sure that all probable misconduct and collusion facets are observed.
