7 cops suspended over Bishnoi’s interview

Seven Punjab Police personnel, including two DSPs, have been suspended for allegedly facilitating a TV interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from the custody at the Kharar CIA station.

Aired in March ’23

Two interviews of Lawrence Bishnoi were aired by a TV channel in March 2023 while he was in the custody of Punjab & Rajasthan cops

Lawrence is an accused in singer Sidhu Moosewala case and also suspect conspirator in Baba Siddique murder case in Mumbai. The Canada Government has also accused him of involvement in June 2023 Hardeep Nijjar murder case as an “agent of India”.

The state Home Department on Friday issued the suspension orders of Deputy Superintendent-rank officers Gursher Singh Sandhu and Sammer Vaneet. Sub Inspectors Reena, Jagatpal Jangu, Shaganjit Singh, ASI Mukhtiar Singh and Head Constable Om Parkash have also been suspended.

Two interviews of Lawrence Bishnoi were aired by a TV channel in March 2023 while he was in the custody of Punjab and Rajasthan Police. An SIT formed under DGP (Special) Prabodh Kumar on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court found that one of the interviews was conducted via video call at the CIA, Kharar.

The interviews coincided with the bhog ceremony (performed on the completion of 10 months after death) of Sidhu Moosewala. Moosewala’s father Balkaur Singh Sidhu had then alleged that the police were hand in glove with the gangster. Later, the SIT found that the allegations levelled by him were true.