Punjab Police recommend cancellation of FIR against Lawrence Bishnoi for TV interview in jail
A Punjab Police inquiry has recommended the cancellation of an FIR regarding the second TV interview given by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi allegedly from a jail in Rajasthan even as it says the gangster indulged in criminal intimidation in the interview.
The inquiry report, submitted in a Mohali court, said there was no evidence that Lawrence indulged in extortion in the TV interview. It further says that Lawrence has also been cleared of the charge of withholding information from the police in the inquiry.
The inquiry conducted by special DGP Prabodh Kumar and DIG Nilambari Vijay Jagdale said Lawrence “indulged in criminal intimidation, but it was a non-cognisable offence”.
Two back-to-back interviews of the gangster were aired by a TV channel in March 2023. On the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, two FIRs were lodged regarding the interviews on January 5 this year.
Regarding the first interview, the same SIT found it was conducted in Kharar police’s custody. The SIT recommended action against a number of police officials.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, in a post on X, criticised the AAP government for the inquiry report “that gave clean chit to the dreaded gangster”.
Lawrence Bishnoi is a suspect in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai last week. The Canadian RCMP police on Monday said the Bishnoi gang was involved in the killing of pro-Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Bishnoi is the prime accused in the killing of Sidhu Moosewala as well. He has issued death threats to Bollywood star Salman Khan several times and sent shooters twice to attack Salman.
FIR
"Inspector Hardeep Singh No. 109/FIR has come present and suffered separate statement that he is the complainant in FIR No. 01 dated 05.01.2024, U/s 384, 201, 202, 116, 120-B of IPC and 52A (1) The prison (Punjab Amendment Act) 2011. The investigation in the present case was conducted by SIT comprising of Parmod Kumar IPS and Nilambari Vijay Jagdela. The said SIT has recommended for filing of cancellation report qua all the offences except offence under Section 506 of IPC which is non- cognisable offence. He agreed with the SIT report and on their directions, he being SHO of PS State Crime, SAS Nagar is filing the cancellation report."
