Lawrence Bishnoi Allegedly Makes Extortion Phone Call From High Security Jail, Punjab & Haryana High Court Directs ADGP To Conduct Inquiry

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Prisons) Punjab to inquire whether gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is lodged in High Security Jail, is having access to a mobile phone in the prison.

The development came after a protection plea was filed by a military contractor alleging that in October one Deepak Tinu called and connected him on conference to Bishnoi, who threatened him of dire consequences. State counsel conceded that Bishnoi was lodged in High Security Jail at the time.

"The aspect that despite being lodged in a High Security Jail, the said gangster was having an access to the mobile/phone numbers so as to have an interaction qua ransom call is a matter of grave concern," Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj said.

Adding that the State counsel is unsure as to whether on the said date, Lawrence Bishnoi, was in custody or not, the Court directed that, "the matter be brought to the notice of the Additional Director general of Police (Prisons) Punjab, to conduct an inquiry and to fix responsibility, if any, about the occurrence of the event of an inmate having access to mobile/phone number."

The petitioner Sukhbir Singh Brar had filed the plea for the restoration of protection provided to him on account of the prevailing security threat "at the behest of politically vested interests", after receiving the call for extortion from Bishnoi, 

The Court noted that an FIR is lodged under Section 386 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860,  at Police Station, Kulgari, District Ferozepur.

 It was alleged that two guards were provided to Brar but instead of enhancing the security cover provided to the petitioner, the respondent authorities have withdrawn the existing security cover.

Perusing the status report submitted by the DSP, Punjab the Court noted that, "It is thus evident that the threat assessment to the petitioner has already been done and temporary arrangement for providing security to the petitioner has been made."

Hence, no further directions are required to be issued in so far as the security issue relating to the petitioner is concerned. However, it is being noticed that in paragraph No.5 of the above said status report, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ferozepur, has reported that “the petitioner had received a phone call from Deepak Tinu and Lawrence Bishnoi," added the Court.

In the light of the above directions were made to the ADGP (Prisons) Punjab, to enquire about the matter and file a status report filed before the Court "within a period of 08 weeks from today (November 06)."

It is pertinent to note that on Thursday, the High Court has taken suo moto cognisance against usage of phones inside jail premises by inmates and has sought to know "what steps are in place to curb the entry of such prohibited items."

While issuing notice to both the States and UT, the division bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Kirti Singh also took note of the interview given by Bishnoi who is accused in Siddhu Moosewala murder case. Bishnoi was in judicial custody when the interview was telecast.

Appearance: Varun Girdhar, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Case Title: SUKHBIR SINGH BRAR v. STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

Click here to download/read the order