SC constitutes panel headed by retd. judge Indu Malhotra to probe PM security breach

New Delhi, Jan 12: In a major development, the Supreme Court has constituted a five-member panel headed by a retired judge, Justice Indu Malhotra, to inquire into the security breach during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab on January 5.

 

SC bench of CJI N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli requested Justice Malhotra Committee to submit inquiry report as early as possible.

 

 

Observing that this issue cannot be decided by one-sided teams, the bench revealed that the Registrar General of the P&H HC, Director General or not nominee not below the rank of IG NIA, DG of UT of Chandigarh and ADGP(Security) of Punjab will be a part of the independent probe panel.

 

The apex court has asked HC Registrar General to submit all records and documents collected by him on orders of the SC to the inquiry panel. The Supreme Court further said that the panel will inquire into the causes of the security breach, persons responsible for it, and the measures to be taken in the future for preventing such security breaches of VVIPs.

 

Earlier, the apex court has asked HC Registrar General to submit all records and documents collected by him on orders of the SC to the inquiry panel.

 

 

 

Earlier on Monday, the apex court had asked both the Central government and the Punjab government to not go ahead with the inquiries by the Committees constituted by them. The Prime Minister was stuck atop a flyover for 15-20 minutes while on his way to Ferozepur, Punjab earlier this month due to the road being blocked by some protesters.

 

The Prime Minister was to visit Ferozepur and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 42,750 crore. After the security lapse, he decided to head back to Bathinda Airport. Union Home Ministry has sought a report from the Punjab Government on the security breach during the Prime Minister’s visit to Punjab calling it a major lapse in his security.

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