Providing studio-like facilities to Lawrence in custody is glorification of crime: HC
#News Bureau, Punjab, October 30,2024
Is it normal if a criminal like Lawrence Bishnoi gives an interview on TV in jail or custody? The Punjab and Haryana High Court has also not considered it a normal incident. It has ordered a fresh investigation into the interview of Lawrence Bishnoi taken by a private TV channel in 2023. Lawrence Bishnoi was in Bathinda jail during this interview. The report filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in this case has raised suspicion of collusion and criminal conspiracy between the police and the gangster.
The bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court said that the police officers allowed the glorification of crime. According to the report of Live Law, Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Lapita Banerjee said, ‘The office of the officer in charge of the police station was used as a studio to conduct the interview. Official Wi-Fi was arranged in the premises of the CIA staff to conduct the interview, which points to a criminal conspiracy. The report indicates that the diary was also forged and fabricated.’
The court said that further investigation is needed in this case as to with what intention this was done and various aspects of crimes other than crimes under the Prevention of Corruption Act should be investigated.
The bench also said that the report of quashing the FIR filed against Lawrence Bishnoi in the case of giving TV interview from police custody raises suspicion of collusion and conspiracy between police officers and the criminal. The bench said, ‘The police officers allowed the criminal to use the electronic device and gave a studio-like facility to conduct the interview, which potentially glorifies the crime.’
This development comes after the revelation made by the SIT constituted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the first interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi glorifying crime and criminals was taken when he was in the Crime Investigation Agency i.e. CIA premises in Kharar, Punjab and the second interview was taken in Jaipur jail.
In previous proceedings, the Court had expressed surprise over the SIT, which is probing the TV interviews of Lawrence Bishnoi in jail, not informing the Court about the recommendation of quashing of FIR by Punjab Police in the matter.
The court also observed that the counsel for Punjab government could not give any satisfactory explanation regarding the haste in filing that report before the Magistrate Court. Therefore, the court has stayed further proceedings in the case.
The court also noted that the Punjab DGP had made a statement in a press conference that the interview was not held in any jail in the state of Punjab. It said, ‘The fact that the interview was conducted in the premises of CIA Staff, Kharar, SAS Nagar District makes it even worse as it appears to have been conducted in connivance with the police officers. Therefore, we direct the DGP, Punjab to disclose on affidavit the basis of such statement made during the press conference.’ The matter is listed for further consideration on November 19.
The court also directed to check the banned interview from time to time and said that if it resurfaces, it should be removed.
Let us tell you that after the murder of Maharashtra politician Baba Siddiqui on October 13, copies of the interview surfaced online again.
The court said, ‘These interviews have been viewed more than 12 million times. This will have an adverse effect on sensitive-minded youth. Punjab is a border state and any deterioration in law and order or increase in crime can affect national security.’
The court also warned the ruling AAP government against making junior officers scapegoats. Expressing concern over a possible criminal conspiracy among the Punjab Police, the court also ordered a new investigation to be conducted by a three-member team led by Human Rights Commission chief Prabodh Kumar.