Lawrence Bishnoi jail interview: Two DSPs among six Punjab cops suspended

Chandigarh The Punjab government on Friday suspended six police officers, including two deputy superintendents Gursher Singh and Summer Vanith, in connection with the jailhouse interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

An order issued by Minister of State for Home Gurkirat Kirpal Singh said the action was taken after the SIT found that Lawrence Bishnoi’s interview, which was broadcast on a private channel, was conducted via video conference while he was in CIA custody Kharara in September. 3-4, 2022. The SIT was headed by Special DGP (Human Rights) Prabodh Kumar.

“Given the sensitivity of the case, all the above-mentioned officers and policemen have been suspended…”, the order reads.

Other suspended police officers include Sub-Inspector Reena, CIA, Kharar (SAS Nagar), Sub-Inspector (LR) Jagatpal Jangu, AGTF, Sub-Inspector (LR) Shaganjit Singh (then duty) and Head Constable Om Parkash (Kharar CIA staff).

Gursher was posted as DSP (Investigation) at the time Bishnoi was brought from Tihar Jail to CIA Harar in a case related to the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Muswal.

Two interviews of the gangster were aired on March 14 and 17, 2023, while he was in Bathinda prison. On January 5 this year, the SIT investigating the case registered FIRs under IPC sections 384 (extortion), 201 (concealment of evidence), 202 (willful concealment of information about an offence), 506 (criminal intimidation), 116 (abetment of offenses punishable under imprisonment) and 120-b (criminal conspiracy) and 52-A (1) of the Prisons (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2011.

However, in the final report filed in the Mohali court on October 9, only one charge under IPC section 506 (criminal intimidation) was framed against Bishnoi. The very next day, the Supreme Court stopped the proceedings. The next meeting is scheduled for October 28.