What Was The Tearing Hurry? High Court On Punjab Police Recommendation To Cancel FIR Against Lawrence Bishnoi For TV Interview From Jail

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has expressed shock at the SIT, probing the TV interviews given by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi "glorifying crime and criminals" purportedly from jail, over its failure to intimate the Court about Punjab Police's recommendation to cancel the FIR in the matter.

A division bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Lapita Banerji observed,

"It has now come to our notice that cancellation report has also been filed before the JMIC, SAS Nagar on 09.10.2024. However, it is perplexing to note that the said report was not furnished to this Court on 15.10.2024 when the matter had come up for hearing."

The Court also remarked that the Punjab government counsel was unable to provide any satisfactory explanation with regard to the "tearing hurry" in filing the cancellation report before the Magistrate Court. It has therefore stayed further proceedings in the mater.

Only yesterday, the SIT had submitted an affidavit about misconduct, negligence and dereliction of duty by the officers on duty while Bishnoi was detained. As per the SIT, the interview was conducted when he was in premises of Punjab Police's Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) in Kharar. Later, the High Court noted that the officers posted at the time were given extension after retirement.

While listing the matter for October 28, the Court directed the SIT Head to file a copy of the investigation report forthwith and provide a copy of the same to the Additional Solicitor General of India, Amicus Curiae and counsel for the States of Punjab and Haryana.

Ms. Tanu Bedi, Advocate as Amicus Curiae and Ms. Palak Singla,

Advocate Mr. Satyapal Jain, Additional Solicitor General of India with Mr. Arun Gosain, Senior Govt. Counsel for respondent/UOI.

Mr. ADS Sukhija, Addl. AG, Punjab, Mr. Anant Kataria, DAG, Haryana.

Mr. Munish Bansal, Public Prosecutor, UT, Chandigarh and Mr. Rajiv Vij, Addl. PP, UT, Chandigarh.

Mr. Hitesh Verma, Advocate and Mr. Vishwajeet Singh, Advocate for applicant in CM-85-CWPIL-2023.

Click here to read/download the order