HC slams gangster glorification, calls for tougher crackdown
Issuing a stern warning against the glorification of gangsters and their portrayal in popular media, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has emphasised the need for strict enforcement of the law to curb the menace. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar asserted that criminal elements must face the full force of the law, declaring that such activities “will not be tolerated.”
Court’s observation
The glorification of violence, the normalisation of criminal behaviour, and the recruitment of vulnerable youth into gangs not only perpetuate crime but erode public trust in the justice system. High Court
“The glorification of violence, the normalisation of criminal behaviour, and the recruitment of vulnerable youth into gangs not only perpetuate crime but erode public trust in the justice system,” the court observed. It further noted that the romanticisation of hardened criminals in popular culture had created a false sense of power and impunity among the youth, posing a significant threat to law and order.
The court underscored the wide-ranging consequences of unchecked gang activities, which contribute to rising violent crime and economic instability in affected areas. “This menace must be dealt with decisively and swiftly,” it stated, stressing the importance of stringent legal measures to dismantle extortion networks and deter future criminal enterprises.
These remarks came while dismissing a petition filed by an undertrial seeking protection, alleging a threat to his life during police custody. The petitioner, booked under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act in FIR No. 442 dated August 10, 2017, claimed he was falsely implicated and feared an extra-judicial killing. However, the state counsel countered that he was the kingpin of a notorious gang, involved in 44 cases across multiple districts.
Rejecting the plea, Justice Brar said, “The petitioner has not been able to indicate the source of such information or supply any material to bestow legitimacy on the same,” deeming the petition “totally misconceived.” The court also imposed a Rs 20,000 fine, directing the amount to be deposited with the Poor Patient Welfare Fund at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
