DSP Gursharan Singh has been dismissed from service in connection with the jail interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The dismissal orders were issued by Home Secretary Gurkirat Kirpal Singh after approval for action against Gursharan Singh was granted by the Governor. A lookout notice has also been issued since Gursharan Singh fled abroad.
Last week, the Home Department sent a dismissal file for DSP Gursharan Singh to the Punjab Public Service Commission. Recently, the state government submitted an affidavit to the High Court, stating that proceedings to dismiss the DSP had begun.
The DSP had been under suspension since October last year. The High Court had criticized the Punjab government for targeting lower-ranking officials while sparing senior officials in the Lawrence Bishnoi interview case. The court expressed dissatisfaction, accusing the state of shielding senior officials by scapegoating junior ones.
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s interview was broadcast in March 2023 via video conferencing. At the time, Lawrence was in the custody of the CIA Kharar. DSP Gursharan Singh was responsible for the case investigation.
Lawrence Bishnoi played a key role in the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. In this case, Punjab Police had brought Lawrence from Tihar Jail on transit remand for investigation.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted by the High Court to take action against officials found guilty in the interview case. Initially, recommendations targeted lower-level officials, which drew the court’s ire. Following this, the Punjab Police submitted an affidavit to the court, confirming action against DSP Gursharan Singh.
According to Punjab government officials, the DSP was allowed to present his side but failed to cooperate with the investigation. Even notices sent to his residence went unanswered, leading to his dismissal.
