The Supreme Court, on Friday, rejected the Punjab government’s request to access witness statements from an investigation into a security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab in January 2022. The breach had resulted in the Prime Minister’s convoy being stranded on a flyover due to a protest blockade, causing him to cancel his scheduled events and return without attending any.
The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, instructed the state government to proceed with its independent inquiry against the officers deemed negligent during the incident, without relying on the witness statements gathered by the inquiry committee. The committee, led by former Supreme Court judge Indu Malhotra, was appointed shortly after the incident on January 12, 2022, to thoroughly investigate the circumstances leading to the security lapse.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the committee had submitted its report, which was reviewed by the court on August 25, 2022. The report, which remains confidential and under seal, has been made available to both the central and state governments. The Supreme Court emphasized that the Punjab government’s recent request for witness testimonies from this report was not justifiable, hence their refusal to grant access.
The inquiry committee had previously reported that the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Ferozepur, Avneet Hans, had not fulfilled his duties effectively despite having ample police force available and prior notification of the Prime Minister’s alternate route. The committee also recommended that an oversight committee be established to periodically review and update the ‘Blue Book’, which outlines detailed security protocols for the Prime Minister’s tours.
Furthermore, the committee suggested sensitization training for police officers involved in VIP security, aiming to prevent such lapses in the future.
