In the case related to Lawrence Bishnoi’s two interviews from jail in March 2023, on 9 Oct, the Panjab Police dropped six charges against Bishnoi (SDW Vol 2 Issue 29 Story 4). The police retained only the charge of criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code in the final report submitted to a Mohali District Court. The Punjab and Haryana High Court (PHHC) questioned the ‘tearing hurry’ shown by the police in dropping the charges. In these interviews, Bishnoi had projected himself as an animal lover and Indian nationalist aligning with the right-wing Hindutva ideology. The interviews are no longer available on the Internet. On 15 Oct, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) at the PHHC identified misconduct, negligence, and dereliction of duty by police officers involved in the case. Special Director General of Police Prabodh Kumar, leading the SIT, declared that the inquiry officer’s approach in investigating a First Information Report (FIR) filed on 5 Jan at State Crime police station, Mohali, was biased and legally untenable. The SIT has found one of the two interviews was conducted at Panjab Police facility in Kharar on the intervening night of 3-4 Sep 2022 and the other was conducted later in Rajasthan. The counsel for Panjab assured the court that appropriate action will be initiated against the officials involved. While Bishnoi gang’s involvement in Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing and association with gangster Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar is seen as an anti-Khalistan act, the Indian National Investigative Agency had filed a report in March 2023 saying Bishnoi allied with pro-Khalistan groups.
Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our top stories.
Liv Forum provides a digest of analysis on major issues facing Indian (East) Panjab and Sikhs globally.
In accordance with our Privacy Policy, we will never share or sell the information of our subscribers.
