DSP dismissed for facilitating Bishnoi’s in-custody interview
The Punjab Government today dismissed Deputy Superintendent of Police Gursher Singh Sandhu for “denting the image of the police department” by facilitating a video-interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi during his custody at the Central Investigation Agency (CIA), Kharar, in March 2023.
The Department of Home Affairs issued the dismissal orders following approval by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), the appointing authority for the Punjab Police Service (PPS) cadre officials.
Lawrence Bishnoi is the prime conspirator in the Sidhu Moosewala case. He also faces over 80 other cases of murder, extortion etc.
The orders read: “The Punjab and Haryana High Court has concluded that Gursher Singh Sandhu, PPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police (under suspension since October 2024), facilitated the recording of an interview of Lawrence Bishnoi by a TV channel while he was in custody of the CIA, Kharar.
The orders said Gursher had not accepted the chargesheet forwarded to the Commandant, 9th Battalion, Punjab Armed Police (PAP), Amritsar, with the direction to ensure its delivery to Gursher Singh Sandhu, PPS (under suspension).
The orders note that the DGP Punjab in his report has stated that “Gursher Singh Sandhu, has severely dented the image of the department as a result of his misconduct, negligence and dereliction of duty during the occurrence of the interview of Lawrence Bishnoi, while in custody of the CIA, Kharar.”
Though the interview took place about 21 months ago, the police investigation into where and how it was conducted was much delayed. Eventually, the police acted on the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which ordered strict action against police officials who facilitated the interview.
Six other Punjab Police officials, including a DSP, were suspended, pending further action for allegedly facilitating the interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi while in police custody. They have been served show-cause notices.
Action is awaited against senior police officials above the rank of DSP, who either failed to check the conduct of the interview or may have been party to that.
The interview had created a furore as it happened close to singer Sidhu Moosewala’s first bhog ceremony. The high court has banned publishing its contents.
