The Punjab and Haryana High Court has instructed the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) to provide detailed statistics on criminal activities that occurred following the broadcast of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s TV interview. Bishnoi, implicated in over 70 cases including the high-profile murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, had given an interview aired by a news channel in March of the previous year.
The bench, comprising Justices Anupinder Singh Grewal and Lapita Banerji, expressed concern after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) revealed that one interview was conducted in September 2022 while Bishnoi was held at the Punjab Police Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) premises. This has raised questions about the interview’s potential influence on criminal behavior and its impact on public safety.
Despite a prior state committee’s inconclusive report suggesting that the interview could not have been conducted in custody, the court remains wary. They indicated that any attempt to mislead the court or obstruct justice would be treated seriously.
The court emphasized the need for a thorough investigation, free from potential biases protecting higher officials. They underscored that while the Punjab Police is highly esteemed, it must remain impervious to undue influence, with any corrupt elements swiftly identified and held accountable.
The court is addressing a suo motu case concerning inmates’ use of mobile phones within jails. Earlier concerns about Bishnoi’s interview potentially influencing young minds and affecting witness testimonies were raised. The court has now directed the DGP to submit an affidavit detailing the number of criminal cases, particularly those involving extortion, ransom, abduction, and intimidation from March to December 2023, and nine months before the interview’s broadcast.
Further, the court has been informed that Bishnoi’s second interview occurred while he was in Rajasthan, prompting Amicus Curiae Tanu Bedi to seek to include the State of Rajasthan in the proceedings.
In addition, the Punjab government has been ordered to report on the progress of enhancing jail security measures, including the installation of jammers, CCTV cameras, and body scanners, as well as increasing staff.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 5.
