Chandigarh/iIBNS: The Punjab government has dismissed a senior police officer for facilitating the recording of an interview with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi by a private television channel while he was in the custody of the CIA (Crime Investigation Agency) in Kharar, media reports said.

A probe by a Special Investigation Team has found that Gursher Singh Sandhu has "severely dented the image of the department "with his misconduct, negligence and dereliction of duty."

Reviewing the matter, the Punjab government also came to the same conclusion and issued an order for his dismissal.

Bishnoi's interviews were recorded while he was in police custody.

One such session was conducted while he was at the CIA staff premises Kharar, and was aired by a private news channel in March 2023.

The dismissal orders, which cited Article 311 of the Constitution, made special mention of his uncooperative attitude.

"It is not reasonably practicable to hold an inquiry into the chargesheet issued to Gursher Singh Sandhu, PPS (under suspension), in view of the non-cooperative attitude of the officer," the order read.

It cited how the officer refused to accept a copy of the chargesheet against him and how it had to be affixed to his doorstep".

Lawrence Bishnoi, arrested in 2014, has been lodged in various jails across the country including Delhi's Tihar jail. He is currently lodged in Sabarmati's Central Jail.