Lawrence Bishnoi Jail Interview Row | HC Asks Punjab Govt To Appoint Justice Rajiv N. Raina As Enquiry Officer To Probe Role Of Police Officials

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab Government to consider appointing former High Court judge Justice Rajiv Narain Raina, Former Judge of this Court as the Inquiry Officer to probe the role of delinquent senior officials of the Punjab Police in facilitating the interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Lapita Banerji said, "The Government shall consider appointing Justice Rajiv Narain Raina, Former Judge of this Court as the Inquiry Officer. He shall be provided adequate security and infrastructure by the State Government. The competent authority may pass necessary order in this regard expeditiously..."

The Court was hearing its suo moto case against the use of mobile phones in the prisons.

After SIT was constituted by the High Court, it revealed that Bishnoi's first interview "glorifying crime and criminals" was conducted when he was in Punjab's Kharar CIA premises and the second interview was in a Jaipur jail.

During the hearing, AG Gurminder Singh filed an affidavit of the Secretary, Department of Home Affairs which stated that although an Inquiry Officer was appointed, they are willing to re-consider the matter.

A panel of retired judges to the High Court in a sealed cover was submitted by AG Singh.

After going through the material placed in a sealed cover, the Court recommended the name of Justice Rajiv Narain Raina.

Previously, the High Court asked the Punjab Government to take strict action against the delinquent officer of the Punjab Police who helped the jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in giving the TV interview from police custody in Kharar's Crime Intelligence Agency (CIA), which tends to glorify crime.

The bench had also asked the government to ensure that "lower level officers are not made scapegoat."

The matter is listed for January 16, for further consideration.

Ms. Tanu Bedi, Advocate as Amicus Curiae.

Mr. Gurminder Singh, Advocate General, Punjab. Mr. A.D.S. Sukhija,Addl.A.G., Punjab

Mr. Aftab Singh Khara, Sr. DAG, Punjab and Mr. Adehswar Singh Pannu, AAG, Punjab.

Mr.Anant Kataria, DAG, Haryana.

Mr. Manish Bansal, Public Prosecutor, U.T., Chandigarh with Mr. Rajiv Vij, Addl. P.P., U.T., Chandigarh.

Mr. Satya Pal Jain, Addl. Solicitor General of India with Mr. Arun Gosain, Sr. Govt. Counsel for respondent-UOI.

Mr. Gourave Bhaiyya Gilhotra, Advocate, Mr. Hitesh Verma, Advocate and

Mr. Vishawajeet Singh, Advocate for the applicant (in CM-85-CWPIL-2023).

Mr. Jaskaranjeet Singh Sibia, Advocate for inmate (Ravinder Singh).

Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION V/S STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

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