Archive · 1 Sep 2026
High Court Quashes Punjab DSP’s Dismissal Over Bishnoi Jail Interview
A police officer named Gursher Singh Sandhu was dismissed by the Punjab government.
The government said he failed in his duties during a jail interview involving Lawrence Bishnoi.
The interview was reportedly recorded at a police investigation office in Kharar in 2022.
A special investigation team said Sandhu and five other police personnel were present.
The government also said Sandhu did not cooperate with its departmental investigation.
Sandhu challenged the dismissal in court.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court cancelled the government’s dismissal orders.
This means Sandhu has received major relief, although the case concerned serious allegations about police conduct.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the dismissal orders against DSP Gursher Singh Sandhu.
The Punjab government dismissed Sandhu on January 2, 2025, invoking Article 311 of the Constitution.
The action followed allegations that Sandhu helped facilitate Lawrence Bishnoi’s 2022 interview from police custody.
A special investigation team said the first interview occurred at the CIA office in Kharar on September 2-3, 2022.
The court’s ruling gives Sandhu relief and puts the disciplinary action’s legality under scrutiny.
- Who
- Dismissed Punjab Police DSP Gursher Singh Sandhu, the Punjab government, and Lawrence Bishnoi.
- What
- The Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed Sandhu’s dismissal orders in the Lawrence Bishnoi jail interview case.
- When
- Sandhu was dismissed on January 2, 2025; the first interview was held during the night of September 2-3, 2022.
- Where
- The first interview was allegedly conducted at the Crime Investigation Agency office inside Kharar police station in Mohali; a second interview was conducted at Jaipur Central Jail.
- Why
- The government alleged that Sandhu facilitated the interview, committed serious dereliction of duty, and showed gross indiscipline.
Punjab Government’s Allegations
Sandhu’s Court Relief
Role in Interview
Punjab Government’s Allegations
The government alleged that Sandhu facilitated arrangements for Lawrence Bishnoi’s interview while he was in police custody.
Sandhu’s Court Relief
The High Court quashed the dismissal orders, granting Sandhu relief from the government’s disciplinary action.
Conduct and Discipline
Punjab Government’s Allegations
The government accused Sandhu of serious dereliction of duty, gross indiscipline, and violating police conduct rules.
Sandhu’s Court Relief
The ruling places the legality of those dismissal orders under scrutiny.
Departmental Inquiry
Punjab Government’s Allegations
The government alleged that Sandhu failed to cooperate with efforts to serve him a chargesheet and involve him in the investigation.
Sandhu’s Court Relief
The High Court’s decision cancelled the dismissal orders despite those allegations.
- Officer
- Gursher Singh Sandhu, a dismissed Punjab Police DSP
- Court ruling
- The Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the government’s dismissal orders
- Dismissal date
- January 2, 2025
- First interview
- Conducted during the night of September 2-3, 2022, according to SIT findings
- First interview location
- Crime Investigation Agency office inside Kharar police station in Mohali
- Personnel present
- The SIT report named Sandhu and five other police personnel from his team
- Second interview
- Conducted at Jaipur Central Jail in Rajasthan on January 2, 2025