Bishnoi interview case: Court stays hearing on SIT cancellation report

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered a stay on further proceedings before the Mohali Judicial Magistrate, First Class (JMIC), regarding the cancellation report filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Lawrence Bishnoi interview case. The report was filed by the SIT, led by Prabodh Kumar, Special Director General of Police, Punjab State Human Rights Commission.

What report says

• As per SIT probe, there was no evidence that Bishnoi indulged in extortion in his 2nd TV interview from jail
• The gangster has not withheld information from the probe team, it said
• The inquiry, conducted by special DGP Prabodh Kumar and DIG Nilambari Vijay Jagdale, said Bishnoi indulged in criminal intimidation, but it was a non-cognisable offence

The order was passed by a Bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Lapita Banerji in a suo motu case. The Bench asserted, "It is perplexing to note that the report was not furnished to this court on October 15, when the matter had come up for hearing. The counsel for Punjab has not been able to provide any satisfactory explanation with regard to the tearing hurry in filing the cancellation report before JMIC, SAS Nagar."

Why such hurry: High Court

The report was not furnished to this court on Oct 15... The counsel for Punjab has not been able to give satisfactory explanation with regard to the tearing hurry in filing the cancellation report. —HC Bench

Consequently, the Bench directed the SIT head to file a copy of the investigation report before the high court forthwith. A copy was also ordered to be furnished to the Additional Solicitor-General of India, amicus curiae, and counsel for the States of Punjab and Haryana.

The Bench observed in its detailed order that the SIT, investigating FIR No. 1 dated January 5, registered at the State Crime police station in Mohali, had previously presented several status reports on July 10, August 7, September 6, September 12, and October 15.

On October 15, the Bench observed that the SIT's head had filed an affidavit, which included a note outlining instances of "misconduct, negligence, and dereliction of duty by the concerned officers."

Despite this, the cancellation report, submitted to the JMIC on October 9, was not made available to the high court on October 15, prompting today's direction to the SIT head to immediately file the complete investigation report. The case has now been adjourned until October 28.