The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday directed the Punjab government to consider appointing former high court judge Rajeev Narayan Raina as an investigating officer to probe the role of senior Punjab police officers convicted of facilitating the interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
A division bench of the High Court is hearing two cases Bishnoi’s TV interview Broadcast on a private news channel in March 2023 and the use of mobile phones in prisons.
In October, the court constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Special DGP Prabodh Kumar to investigate criminal conspiracy, abetment, fraud, and offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IT Act in connection with the interview. During an earlier hearing, Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh cited the SIT report, which pointed to the cooperation of some police officers in facilitating the interview. The report also recommended the dismissal of DSP Gursher Singh Sandhu in the matter.
After the case came up for hearing on Wednesday, the Advocate General submitted an affidavit from the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and said that although the investigation officer was appointed, the government is willing to reconsider the matter. The Advocate General presented the panel of retired judges to the court under sealed cover.
After reviewing the contents of the sealed cover, the division bench of Justices Anupinder Singh Grewal and Lapita Banerjee directed that ‘the government should consider appointing former judge of this court Rajiv Narayan Raina as an investigation officer’.
The bench further ordered, “He should be provided adequate security and infrastructure by the State Government. The competent authority may issue necessary orders soon in this regard. Needless to say, the investigating officer shall be paid reasonable remuneration.”
Meanwhile, the court appointed senior advocate Rakesh Kumar Nehra as amicus curiae to assist in the case.
The case will be heard next on January 16, 2025, with the SIT directed to submit its status report on that date.
Why should you buy our membership?
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t want to be confused and misinformed.
Choose your subscription package