HC affirms power to appoint retired officer for investigation in Bishnoi interview case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that it is empowered to appoint a retired officer to continue an investigation while exercising its powers under the Constitution of India. The assertion came as a Division Bench directed that retired IPS officer Prabodh Kumar would continue to head the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the in-custody interview of "known criminal" Lawrence Bishnoi, which allegedly "glorifies crime and criminals."

The Bench ruled: “We are also of the considered view that it would be in the interest of justice that Prabodh Kumar continues to head the SIT, being well acquainted with the subject matter of the investigation as he has been heading the SIT from its inception in January 2023, while there has been a change of other members of the SIT. Besides, he is the only police officer currently in the Punjab Police who is empanelled by the Government of India as Director-General of Police.”

For ensuring the effective functioning of the SIT, the court directed that Prabodh Kumar would be paid an honorarium of Rs 1.5 lakh per month.

The Bench further ruled: “He shall be provided necessary secretarial assistance. He would also retain the security cover and the official vehicle provided to him. The Director-General of Police, Punjab, is also directed to provide him any other assistance as and when required by him.”