Punjab SIT seeks more time for Bishnoi investigation

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Punjab is looking into interviews of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi that aired in March 2023. The SIT, led by former police officer Prabodh Kumar, reported that it has made “significant progress” in its investigation and is asking for more time to finish. On Wednesday, the SIT submitted a fresh report to the high court. The court, led by justices Anupinder Singh Grewal and Deepak Manchanda, reviewed the report but did not discuss its contents. Instead, the hearing has been postponed to March 27, and the report will remain sealed. The investigation began after concerns that the interviews could glorify crime. The interviews have since been taken down, but they reportedly received 12 million views on YouTube. The SIT discovered that one interview was recorded in a police facility in Kharar, while the other took place in Rajasthan. In these interviews, Bishnoi denied involvement in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. He also threatened actor Salman Khan over an incident from 1998. Additionally, Punjab's Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, Surinder Singh, reported on upgrades to jail security and monitoring. The court was informed that work on AI-based CCTV systems in eight jails is complete, and X-ray baggage scanners will be in place by March 31. The court also requested updates on enhancing jail security measures by the next hearing date.