Why is Punjab and Haryana High Court taking Punjab police to task?

Repeated concerns over gangster violence, police lapses and delayed action prompt judicial scrutiny in ongoing PIL

4 min readChandigarhUpdated: Feb 6, 2026 12:54 PM IST

The HC flagged slow police action in the shooting case and delayed FIRs in another incident. (Source: File)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court is increasingly holding the Punjab Police accountable for alleged lapses in tackling organised crime and ensuring swift justice.

On Thursday, the bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda sought a detailed report from the Punjab Police on a daylight shooting outside the Mohali SSP office and raised concerns over delayed action in other serious incidents, amid a broader debate on crime linked to organised gangs such as the Lawrence Bishnoi network.

Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) and connected matters on law and order, the bench took note of an affidavit filed by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav and asked for further clarity on the Mohali shooting, in which one person was killed in broad daylight. The court was told that two shooters had been identified but not arrested so far, while two other accused had been taken into custody.

The bench observed that the incident had taken place outside the Senior Superintendent of Police’s office in Mohali, yet the main assailants remained at large. The DGP sought more time to submit a report, which the court granted, listing the case for February 10.
The judges also flagged another incident from July 6, 2025, when a police officer allegedly manhandled and assaulted a chowkidar , a court employee, at the Mohali District Court premises. Despite CCTV footage and a complaint, no FIR was initially registered. An FIR (No. 197) was filed only on July 31, 2025, after a judicial order, but six months later, little progress was visible. Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi and senior counsel Puneet Bali assured the bench of appropriate action by the next hearing.

The judges have been hearing a long-pending suo motu case initiated in 2023 over gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s controversial TV interview from jail, which exposed alleged police facilitation and security lapses. In July 2025, the bench directed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the role of senior officers and summoned the DGP for personal appearance in one hearing to explain affidavits and media statements.

The SIT has so far revealed that Bishnoi’s first interview was conducted not in jail but inside the Kharar CIA lockup in September 2022, with police personnel allegedly converting a senior officer’s room into a makeshift studio, providing WiFi, mobile phones and other facilities. Findings pointed to serious dereliction of duty, leading to the suspension of seven officers, including two DSPs, in October 2024 and the dismissal of DSP Gursher Singh Sandhu in January 2025.

While initial action focused on mid-level officials, the probe into potential involvement of senior officers remains ongoing, as directed by the court in July 2025. Polygraph tests were approved for several personnel in 2025, but no major revelations against top brass have emerged yet, with the SIT continuing its investigation amid persistent judicial oversight.

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The court has also expressed dismay over rising gangster-linked violence, including in a suo motu case taken up after the brazen December 15, 2025, murder of prominent kabaddi promoter Rana Balachauria (Kanwar Digvijay Singh) during a tournament in Mohali’s Sector 79.

In an interim order, the bench remarked that it “could not tolerate a situation where shooters commit murders in the presence of police personnel and escape,” while describing extortion as having become an “industry” in Punjab. The daylight shooting, claimed by rival gangs, has been referenced in connected PIL proceedings on deteriorating law and order, underscoring police failures in preventing such public executions.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More