The Supreme Court (SC) Wednesday appointed a five-member committee headed by former apex court judge Justice Indu Malhotra to probe the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Punjab.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India said that the committee will also include the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana Court, the Director General of the National Investigation Agency or an officer nominated by him not below the rank of Inspector General, and ADGP (Security) of Punjab Police.
While setting up the committee, the court said a probe of this kind “cannot be left to one-sided enquiries”, Indian Express reported, and must include a judicially trained mind who can properly apprise the court on the matter.
Setting up the panel, the bench also including Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli said the matter “cannot be left to one-sided enquiries” and that it must be looked into by a judicially trained mind to submit a comprehensive report for the consideration of the court.
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A fresh petition seeking a National Investigation Agency probe into the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab on January 5 was filed before the Supreme Court on January 10.
The SC is also hearing a plea of an organisation, Lawyers Voice, seeking a thorough investigation into the breach in Modi’s security in Punjab to ensure there is no such incident in the future.
The apex court had earlier directed the Punjab government to ensure that all records and materials pertaining to the Prime Minister’s movements be immediately secured in the custody of the Punjab and Haryana High Court registrar-general.
The prime minister’s convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur last week. The incident forced the PM to cancel his rally and other events planned in poll-bound Punjab.
(With inputs from agencies)