The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) to provide data on criminal cases registered following the broadcast of an interview with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi on a television channel last year [Court on its Own Motion vs. State of Punjab and Others].
Bishnoi, who is implicated in over 70 cases in Punjab and is a suspect in the murder of Punjabi singer Shubdeep Singh Sidhu, also known as Sidhu Moosewala, had his interview aired by a news channel in March last year. In the interview with ABP News, Bishnoi admitted to knowing about the murder plot.
The division bench, comprising Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Lapita Banerji, raised concerns after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) revealed that one of the interviews was conducted in September 2022 while Bishnoi was in the custody of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) of Punjab Police.
Previously, a State-constituted Committee submitted an inconclusive report, suggesting it was highly unlikely the interview was conducted while Bishnoi was in jail or police custody in Punjab. The bench warned that any attempt by the State Committee to mislead the Court or obstruct judicial proceedings would be treated seriously and addressed at the appropriate time.
The Court emphasized that the SIT, formed by the Court in December 2023, should conduct a thorough investigation, not limited to lower-level officials, to ensure higher-ranking officers are also scrutinized. The bench stated, “The Punjab Police is one of the best police forces in the country, but it needs to be insulated from external influence. The black sheep must be identified and held accountable at the earliest.”
The Court was hearing a suo motu case concerning the use of mobile phones by inmates within jail premises. In December, the Court expressed concern that Bishnoi’s interview could negatively influence impressionable youths and potentially intimidate witnesses. On Thursday, the Court reiterated that the interview might have led to a surge in crime.
The Court ordered the DGP to submit an affidavit detailing the number and nature of criminal cases registered, particularly those involving extortion, threatening calls, ransom demands, abductions, and witness intimidation in Punjab, from March 2023 to December 2023, when the interviews were removed from the internet, and for the nine months preceding the interview’s broadcast.
It was also reported to the Court that a second interview with Bishnoi took place while he was in Rajasthan. Amicus Curiae Tanu Bedi informed the Court of plans to file an application to involve the State of Rajasthan in the case.
Meanwhile, the Court instructed the Punjab government to submit an affidavit on the progress of enhancing jail security, including the installation of jammers, CCTV cameras, X-ray body scanners, and the recruitment of additional manpower.
The case is scheduled for its next hearing on September 5.
Advocate Tanu Bedi is serving as amicus curiae, alongside advocate Pooja Dahiya. Senior Government Counsel Arun Gosain represented the Union of India, while Senior Deputy Advocate General Aftab Singh Khara represented the Punjab government. Additional Advocate General Ashish Yadav represented the State of Haryana, and Public Prosecutor Munish Bansal, along with Additional Public Prosecutor Rajiv Vij, represented the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Advocates Gourave Bhayyia Gilhotra and Vishwajeet Singh represented an applicant in the case.
