Chandigarh, 2 January 2024: The Punjab government has officially dismissed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gursher Singh Sandhu for facilitating a video interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi while he was in police custody in March 2023. The decision, made on Thursday, followed approval from the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), which oversees appointments to the Punjab Police cadre.
Bishnoi, who is implicated in over 80 criminal cases, including the murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala, had been held at the Central Investigation Agency (CIA) in Kharar at the time of the interview. According to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Sandhu played a key role in arranging the interview, which was conducted by a TV channel. The Court’s intervention prompted an investigation after significant delay by the police.
The dismissal orders criticized Sandhu for bringing disrepute to the police department. A report from the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) highlighted Sandhu’s negligence and failure to adhere to his responsibilities during the interview incident. The DGP’s report emphasized the negative impact Sandhu’s actions had on the image of the force. Additionally, it was noted that Sandhu had not properly processed a chargesheet that had been forwarded to him.
Although the interview occurred more than 20 months ago, it gained renewed attention due to the Court’s directive for further inquiry. In response, six other Punjab Police officers, including a DSP, have been suspended and issued show-cause notices while the investigation continues. Action against senior officers who may have been complicit in the incident is still pending.
The controversial interview, which took place just before the first bhog ceremony of Sidhu Moosewala, has been banned from publication by the Court.
