HC reprimands Punjab government for providing state guest facilities to Lawrence Bishnoi in custody

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): The Punjab and Haryana High Court has criticized the Punjab government for failing to take action against the Mohali SSP and SP regarding the interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi while he was in police custody. The court noted that Bishnoi's detention appeared to be nominal, as he was receiving facilities akin to those of a state guest. During a hearing on Monday, the High Court inquired about the steps taken against the responsible police officers.

While it was reported that action had been initiated against lower-ranking officials, the Advocate General (AG) stated that the SSP was unaware of the situation. The court ordered the government to take appropriate measures against the SSP and SP after reviewing the SIT report, warning that it would issue directives if no action was taken. Additionally, the court demanded clarification on why Bishnoi was repeatedly brought to Punjab during that period and the reasons behind his interview. It also instructed the SIT to investigate further, indicating that if it had doubts about the ongoing investigation, it would transfer the case to an independent agency.

During the proceedings, the High Court highlighted a statement from the DGP, who claimed the interview did not occur in Punjab. The court requested that he submit an affidavit explaining the basis for this assertion and why the SIT had not completed its investigation into Bishnoi's interview. The SIT, formed by the High Court's order, determined that the interview was indeed conducted from Punjab. This scrutiny comes in the wake of discussions surrounding Lawrence Bishnoi following the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai. Bishnoi is currently incarcerated in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat.