Moosewala murder case: Accused Pawan Bishnoi, Jagtar Singh granted bail
What's the story
The Supreme Court of India has granted bail to two accused, Pawan Kumar Bishnoi and Jagtar Singh, in the 2022 murder case of famous Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. The decision was made by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta while hearing their Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order that denied them bail.
Accusations
Bishnoi's alleged limited involvement, long custody argued for bail
Bishnoi is suspected to be a part of a module that provided logistical support for Moosewala's murder, including arranging the vehicle used in the crime, reported IANS. His lawyer argued in court that his involvement was limited to providing a Bolero vehicle, and he has been in custody for nearly four years. The trial is expected to take considerable time, they added.
Opposition
Punjab Police opposed Bishnoi's bail plea
The Punjab Police opposed Bishnoi's bail plea, arguing that he had received several calls from co-accused persons regarding the vehicle used in the singer's murder. Meanwhile, Singh is accused of helping with the reconnaissance of Moosewala's residence. His lawyer argued that cameras near the singer's house were for his own home's security and not for any crime-related surveillance.
Past proceedings
HC denied bail pleas earlier this month
Earlier, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had denied the bail pleas, stating that the seriousness of the allegations outweighed the prejudice caused by the delay in the trial. The court had suggested waiting for eyewitnesses' statements before considering regular bail requests to ensure a secure environment for their deposition. Moosewala was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29, 2022. He was 28.
Case background
More about the murder case
The singer was attacked by assailants who reportedly fired over 30 rounds at him. He was later found slumped in the driver's seat by locals. The Punjab Police have blamed Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar and his boss, Lawrence Bishnoi, for the killing. Brar is a member of the notorious Bishnoi gang and has been named in the police chargesheet filed in a Mansa court.