Supreme Court Rejects Gangster's Plea Against SIT Probe

The Supreme Court dismissed Lawrence Bishnoi's appeal against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's decision to form a special investigation team to investigate his jail interview aired on TV. The court maintained that the case requires investigation despite claims that multiple witnesses found nothing incriminating.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi against a Punjab and Haryana High Court order to form a special investigation team (SIT) and register FIRs concerning his televised interview conducted while in jail.

A bench comprising Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice S C Sharma refused to interfere with the high court's directive.

''Let it be investigated. It is a matter of investigation. There are 73 cases filed against you,'' remarked the bench.

Bishnoi's counsel argued that he was not given a chance to be heard before the order was passed, adding that multiple witnesses had been examined without finding any incriminating evidence.

The Supreme Court advised Bishnoi to take his case back to the high court for further action.

Last December, the high court had directed the registration of FIRs and a probe led by IPS officer Prabodh Kumar into Bishnoi's interview. The order came as part of a suo motu case on the use of mobile phones by inmates. Bishnoi is among the accused in the 2022 murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala, and in March last year, a news channel aired two interviews with him.

(With inputs from agencies.)