The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to two accused linked to the 2022 killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. The order came after the court considered the long period the accused had already spent in custody and the delay in the ongoing trial. The decision marks an important development in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case bail proceedings.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta granted bail to Pawan Kumar Bishnoi and Jagtar Singh while hearing their plea challenging the earlier decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Supreme Court reviews High Court’s earlier rejection
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier refused bail to the accused, stating that statements of key eyewitnesses should first be recorded before any relief could be granted.
However, during the hearing before the Supreme Court, the defence highlighted several issues related to evidence and the prolonged detention of the accused in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case bail matter.
Advocate Abhay Kumar, representing Pawan Kumar Bishnoi, argued that the accused was linked to the case primarily because his surname matched that of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. According to the defence, there was no real connection between the two individuals.
The counsel also told the court that Bishnoi had been implicated based on a confessional statement recorded during custody in another criminal case. However, he was later discharged from that case.
Allegations and defence arguments
Another allegation claimed that Bishnoi arranged the Bolero vehicle used in the attack on the instructions of gangster Goldy Brar. The defence argued that investigators had not recovered any vehicle or evidence supporting that claim.
The lawyer also pointed out that the prosecution has listed nearly 180 witnesses in the case. With such a large number of witnesses yet to testify, the trial could take a long time to conclude.
Since Bishnoi had already spent more than three and a half years in custody, the court took this factor into account while considering the Sidhu Moosewala murder case bail request.
Meanwhile, the counsel for Jagtar Singh argued that his client had no active role in the crime. According to the defence, Singh was merely a neighbour and had not facilitated any reconnaissance linked to the attack.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the Supreme Court deemed it appropriate to grant Sidhu Moosewala murder case bail to both accused.
Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead in Punjab’s Mansa district on May 29, 2022. His killing shocked the Punjabi music industry and fans worldwide.
The trial in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case bail matter will continue as the investigation and witness testimonies proceed.
FAQs
Q: Why did the Supreme Court grant Sidhu Moosewala murder case bail?
A: The court considered the long custody period of the accused and the slow progress of the trial while granting Sidhu Moosewala murder case bail.
Q: Who received bail in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case?
A: Pawan Kumar Bishnoi and Jagtar Singh were granted Sidhu Moosewala murder case bail by the Supreme Court.
Q: How long had the accused been in jail?
A: One of the accused had already spent over three and a half years in custody before receiving Sidhu Moosewala murder case bail.
Q: When was Sidhu Moosewala killed?
A: Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead on May 29, 2022, in Mansa district of Punjab.
