The Punjab and Haryana High Court expressed concern over the rise in organized crime in Punjab including extortion, ransom calls, and targeted killings particularly after a controversial interview of a gangster was aired online in early 2023. The Court has directed the Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, to file a detailed affidavit providing monthly data on such crimes from January 1, 2024, to July 15, 2025, and to outline preventive steps taken by the State.
The Bench of Justices Anupinder Singh Grewal and Deepak Manchanda also emphasized that the Single Judge’s directions in CRM-M-31019-2025 must be followed, and their compliance must be reported in the affidavit.
The Court noted the ongoing investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by retired IPS officer Mr. Prabodh Kumar. Taking note of the need for effective probing, the Court added Mr. Dhruv Dahiya, IPS (A.I.G., Counter Intelligence), to the SIT and instructed that the role of senior officers be scrutinized to ensure accountability is not deflected to lower-level officials. The SIT is to file its status report within a month.
Further, the Court was informed that the interview in question had contributed to a spurt in criminal activity. While efforts such as recruitment of jail staff, engagement of CRPF and Punjab Police personnel, and enhancement of prison inmate calling systems were noted, the Court also directed that video conferencing facilities in jails currently underutilized must be used more effectively for producing high-risk prisoners before trial courts to reduce security risk and public expenditure.
The matter is now listed for further hearing on August 18, 2025.
Appearances:
Mr. M.S. Bedi, Advocate General, Punjab with Mr. Aftab Singh Khara, Senior DAG, Punjab & Mr. Adeshwar Singh Pannu, AAG, Punjab.
Mr. Anant Kataria, DAG, Haryana.
Mr. Manish Bansal, Public Prosecutor, UT, Chandigarh and Mr.Rajiv Vij, Addl. PP, UT, Chandigarh.
Mr. Dheeraj Jain, Standing counsel for UOI.
Ms. Tanu Bedi, Advocate (amicus curiae) assisted by Mr. Pushp Jain, Advocate
Mr. Gourave Bhayyia Gilhotra, Advocate and Mr. Hitesh Verma, Advocate for the applicant in CM-85-CWPIL-2023.
Mr. Arun Gosain, Advocate and Ms. Swati Arora, Advocate (Senior Govt. counsel) for UOI in CWP-24232-2011.
Ms. Bhawna Garg, Principal Secretary, Jails, Punjab
Mr. Arun Pal Singh, ADGP, Jails (through VC)
Mr. Prabodh Kumar, IPS (Retd.) Head of the SIT, Mr. Nageshwar Rao, ADGP, Provisioning Mr. Nilabh Kishore, ADGP, STF (through VC)
Mr. Sanjay Kaushal, Senior Advocate with Mr. Ankit Rana, Advocate for the applicant.