Lawrence Bishnoi On August 30, 2024, the Supreme Court of India granted protection from arrest to a private news channel anchor who is under investigation for conducting interviews with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi while he was in jail. Bishnoi, who faces charges in the 2022 murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala and is accused in a shooting incident involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan, gave video interviews to the anchor via mobile phone in March of last year.
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Lawrence Bishnoi
The court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, stated that while the news anchor must cooperate with the ongoing investigation, no arrest should be made at this time. The court acknowledged that interviewing inmates may breach jail regulations, even if the intent was to uncover important information.
Senior lawyers Mukul Rohatgi and RS Cheema, representing the news channel and the anchor, argued that arresting the journalist could endanger his life and hinder efforts to expose serious issues. They contended that the real problem lies in how Bishnoi managed to give interviews from jail, not the act of reporting itself.
The case has drawn significant attention as it involves high-profile criminal investigations and raises questions about journalistic practices and jail security. A special investigation team (SIT) has been set up to probe the matter further, including examining the role of jail officials in allowing these interviews.
This Supreme Court decision came after a previous high court ruling directed the SIT to investigate the interviews and file an FIR against those involved. The court’s latest order ensures that the journalist will not face arrest while the investigation continues.
