Punjab: Lawrence Bishnoi acquitted in extortion case

Punjab: A local court today acquitted jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in a four-year-old case of alleged extortion and criminal intimidation, giving him the benefit of the doubt. The case, registered in July 2021 under sections 387, 506 and 120-B of the IPC, was based on a complaint by a textile shop owner from Kotkapura who claimed that gangster Goldy Brar had demanded Rs 50 lakh from him. Bishnoi, who is currently lodged in Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail, was produced before a judicial magistrate first class (JMIC) through video-conferencing.
The court found that the prosecution failed to prove his involvement beyond reasonable doubt. Notably, the complainant retracted his earlier statement saying he did not know Bishnoi and that the police had obtained his signatures on blank papers. Additionally, a key witness, a sub-inspector, was also declared “hostile” on the request of the prosecution. The court said that the two police witnesses were mere formal witnesses whose testimony did not strengthen the prosecution’s case. As a result, Bishnoi was acquitted. However, proceedings against Goldy Brar alias Satinderjit Singh will continue once he is arrested or surrenders. Brar is still absconding in the case. Following a complaint of extortion, an FIR was filed against both Bishnoi and Brar.