Chandigarh : Eight months after the Punjab Police registered two FIRs regarding gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s interviews aired by a private news channel in March 2023, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has reported to the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the first interview was conducted on the night of September 3-4, 2022, at the CIA premises in Kharar, and the second interview took place while Bishnoi was in Rajasthan.

During a suo-motu hearing, the division bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Lapita Banerji stated, “We hope and trust that the investigation conducted by the SIT is not confined to the lower-level officials and they are not made scapegoats while protecting the higher officers.” The bench emphasised, “The black sheep has to be identified and brought to book at the earliest.” The case is scheduled for further hearing on September 5.

A status report filed by the SIT, led by Prabodh Kumar, Special Director General of Police, PSHRC-cum-Head of the SIT, detailed the progress made in pinpointing Bishnoi’s locations during the interviews. The bench noted, “It is disquieting to note that in the first interview conducted on the night of September 3-4, 2022, the interviewee was in the premises of CIA, Kharar, while giving the second interview, the interviewee was in the State of Rajasthan.”

The bench expressed concern over a previous report by a two-member committee appointed by the State Government, which had stated that it was “highly improbable” the interview was conducted either in jail or in police custody in Punjab. “It had taken almost eight months to arrive at that inconclusive finding. If it was an attempt to hoodwink the Court or misdirect the proceedings of the Court, it would be a serious matter and would be considered at an appropriate stage,” the bench remarked.

The High Court reiterated the importance of ensuring the investigation is thorough and unbiased,