Punjab sacks DSP for conducting a controversial interview with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi

The Punjab government has dismissed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gursher Singh Sandhu in connection with a controversial interview conducted with notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi while he was in police custody.

The interview took place in September 2022 at the premises of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) in Kharar, Mohali.

The dismissal order, signed by Punjab’s Home Secretary Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, cited Sandhu's misconduct, negligence, and dereliction of duty, which significantly damaged the reputation of the Punjab Police.


The order stated that Sandhu’s actions had “severely dented the image of Punjab Police,” emphasising his failure to perform his duties as a violation of the force's disciplinary and conduct rules.

Sandhu had been under suspension since October 2024, and the dismissal comes after consultations with the Punjab Public Service Commission.

The government had earlier informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that Sandhu was not cooperating with the ongoing inquiry and that his whereabouts were unknown.

The incident involving the interview raised serious concerns over the integrity and procedures within the police force, prompting this decisive action from the state government.

(With inputs from ToI)