Police Officers Provided A Studio Like Facility To Conduct Lawrence Bishnoi’s Interview: Punjab & Haryana HC
The Punjab & Haryana High Court noted that police officers allowed Lawrence Bishnoi to use electronic device and provided a studio like facility to conduct the interview which tends to glorify crime with the potential to facilitate other crimes including extortion by the criminal and his associates.
The Court directed constitution of new commission to investigate conspiracy, abetment, forgery, offences under Prevention of Corruption Act, Information Technology Act while noting that the report under Section 173 CrPC raises a suspicion of nexus and conspiracy between the police officers and Lawrence Bishnoi.
The Court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed on its own motion.
The bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Lapita Banerji observed, “ …the report under Section 173 Cr.P.C. raises a suspicion of nexus and conspiracy between the police officers and the criminal.The police officers allowed the criminal to use electronic device and provided a studio like facility to conduct the interview which tends to glorify crime with the potential to facilitate other crimes including extortion by the criminal and his associates.”
Additional Solicitor General of India Satyapal Jain appeared for the Respondent.
By its earlier order the Court directed action against senior officers who facilitated an interview. Despite that, no action was reported against senior district officers. Further, the Court ordered the State to submit an affidavit explaining why the interviewee was held at CIA Staff Kharar for an extended time and whether repeated remands were for investigation or due to ulterior motives. The affidavit is yet to be filed. The Court instructed the Punjab DGP to submit an affidavit on the matter, including clarification of his press statement denying the interview took place in a Punjab jail, though it occurred at CIA Staff Kharar. The Amicus Curiae also noted that, despite the Court's order to remove the interview from social media, it has reappeared on some platforms.
The Court directed that there should be periodic checks and if interviews banned by order are found to have resurfaced then they be removed immediately without any further orders of the Court.
The Court said that the matter calls for further investigation as to what consideration was done and the various aspects towards offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act besides other offences need to be examined.
Accordingly, the Court directed that a new SIT headed by Mr Prabodh Kumar and also comprising of Mr Nageshwar Rao, ADGP, Provisioning and Mr Nilabh Kishore, ADGP, STF to carry out further investigation towards criminal conspiracy, abetment, forgery, offences under Prevention of Corruption Act, Information Technology Act and also under any other offence.
The Court listed the matter on November 19, 2024.
Cause Title: Court on its own motion v. State of Punjab
Appearance:
Amicus Curiae Tanu Bedi, ASG Satyapal Jain, AG Gurminder Singh, Senior DAG HS Sullar, DAG Anant Kataria, Addl. AG ADS Sukhija, PP Manish Bansal, Addl PP Rajiv Vij, SC Arun Gosain, Advocates Hitesh Verma, Vishwajeet Singh, Gourave Bhaiyya Gilhotra, Vikramjeet Singh, Harsh Manocha, Mandeep Kaur Gill, CS Rana and Sumeet
