Punjab & Haryana HC orders further probe into Lawrence Bishnoi interview inside police station
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed a fresh investigation into the circumstances under which gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was provided with a studio-like setting at CIA Staff Kharar police station for an interview aired on ABP News. The suo motu proceedings arose from concerns about inmates’ access to electronic devices and the possibility of glorifying crime through such media appearances.
A Bench comprising Justices Anupinder Singh Grewal and Lapita Banerji expressed serious concerns over senior Punjab police officers allegedly allowing Bishnoi, a suspect in singer Sidhu Moosewala’s murder, to use official facilities for the interview, conducted in March 2023. The Court noted that the interview might have been staged as part of a conspiracy involving police personnel, with possible violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Court criticised the SIT's decision to file a cancellation report and ordered the formation of a new team led by Prabodh Kumar, Special DGP of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission. This team will investigate potential criminal conspiracy, abetment, forgery, and other offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Information Technology Act. The SIT must report back within six weeks.
The Court also highlighted irregularities, including the provision of Wi-Fi at the CIA premises for the interview and the apparent forging of official records, suggesting a cover-up or external influence. It questioned why senior officials had not been held accountable, emphasising that action against higher-ranking officers was necessary.
The DGP has been ordered to submit an affidavit addressing the interview's location and detailing why Bishnoi remained at CIA Staff Kharar for an extended period. Additionally, any online reposts of the interview must be removed immediately.
Advocate Tanu Bedi serves as Amicus Curiae, with representation from various state and Union government counsels in the matter.
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UP: Misled by GPS navigation, car falls into river from partially constructed bridge, 3 dead
Bareilly (UP), Nov 24: Three people died when their car fell into the Ramganga river from a partially constructed bridge here on Sunday, police said, adding that they suspect the driver was misled by its navigation system into taking the unsafe route.
The accident occurred around 10 am on the Khalpur-Dataganj road when the victims were travelling from Bareilly to Dataganj in the Badaun district, they said.
"Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the system," Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam said.
The driver was using a navigation system and did not realise that the bridge was unsafe, driving the car off the damaged section, the police said.
There were no safety barriers or warning signs on the approach to the damaged bridge, leading to the fatal accident, Shivam said.
Upon receiving information, police teams from Faridpur, Bareilly and Dataganj police station rushed to the spot. They recovered the vehicle and the bodies from the river, Shivam added.
The circle officer said that bodies had been sent for post-mortem. Further investigation into the matter is underway.
— Bareilly Police (@bareillypolice) November 24, 2024
