DSP Gursher dismissed for facilitating Bishnoi's interview from custody
The Punjab government on Thursday dismissed Deputy Superintendent of Police Gursher Singh Sandhu of the Punjab Police cadre 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), which is the appointing authority for the Punjab Police Service cadre officials.
Lawrence Bishnoi is the prime conspirator of the Sidhu Moosewala case and has been facing more than 80 other police cases of murder, extortion and other crimes.
The orders said, “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 the custody of CIA, Kharar.
The orders stated that Gursher had not accepted the chargesheet forwarded to the Commandant, 9th Battalion, Punjab Armed Police, Amritsar, with the direction to ensure its delivery to him.
The orders note that the DGP Punjab in his report has stated, “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 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. They have been served a show-cause notice.
Action is still awaited against senior cops above the rank of DSP, who either failed to check the conduct of this interview or may have been party to it.
The interview created quite a furore as it happened close to Sidhu Moosewala's first bhog ceremony. The High Court has banned publishing its contents.
