Punjab DSP Dismissed Over Lawrence Bishnoi Interview Case

Chandigarh (Punjab) : The Punjab government has dismissed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gursher Singh from his position following orders from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The dismissal comes in the wake of Singh’s involvement in the controversial interview of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi while he was in police custody. This high-profile case is linked to the investigation surrounding the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.

On Thursday, the Home Department issued an official order to remove DSP Gursher Singh from his duties. The action follows the recommendations made by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that had been formed to look into the role of police officers involved in the incident. The SIT’s report found that Gursher Singh had severely compromised the integrity of Punjab Police by allowing Bishnoi to conduct an interview while in custody, leading to significant damage to the department’s image. Singh was also found guilty of dereliction of duty and misconduct, violating the strict conduct guidelines established for police officers.

The interview, which was broadcast in March 2023, was conducted via video conference when Bishnoi was under the custody of CIA Kharar in 2022. Singh, who was then the DSP (Investigation), was responsible for overseeing the custody arrangements but failed to prevent the interview. Bishnoi is currently being investigated for his involvement in the murder of Sidhu Moosewala, an act that has brought intense scrutiny to the Punjab Police.

Before his dismissal, Singh had been suspended, and a charge sheet had been served to him, but he failed to respond. As a result, the charge sheet was pasted at his residence. The Punjab government acted swiftly following the High Court’s intervention, which had earlier instructed the formation of an SIT to probe the matter and hold those responsible accountable.

This dismissal marks a significant move in ensuring accountability within the Punjab Police and restoring public confidence in the state’s law enforcement.