HC recommends appointment of Justice Raina as inquiry officer in Bishnoi interview case

Less than two month after the Punjab and Haryana High Court called for an explanation for a previous statement made by Director-General of police that “known criminal” Lawrence Bishnoi was not interviewed in any jail in Punjab, a Division Bench today recommended the appointment of Justice Rajiv Narain Raina as the inquiry officer (IO).

The court directed the Punjab Government to provide Justice Raina with adequate security, infrastructure and suitable remunerations for the assignment. The matter will now be placed before the competent authority for a formal order.

The Division Bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Lapita Banerji was hearing a suo motu public interest litigation concerning Bishnoi’s in-custody interview. Punjab Advocate-General Gurminder Singh during the hearing submitted a sealed cover containing a proposed panel of retired judges.

The Bench was assisted in the matter by amicus curiae Tanu Bedi, Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain and senior government counsel for the Union of India Arun Gosain. The developments took place nearly a year after Bishnoi’s in-custody interview “glorifying crime and criminals” was flagged as a matter of grave concern.

The Punjab Government has already decided to dismiss Deputy Superintendent of Police Gursher Singh in the matter. The decision follows findings of connivance by certain police officers in the matter.