The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered an FIR and the constitution of a Special Investigation Team, headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police, after the petitioner's counsel reported receiving threats from an international number demanding that he withdraw the plea seeking fair investigation involving accused lodged in jail.

It was alleged that the petitioner's husband is falsely implicated in a NDPS case on behest of accused allegedly operating an illegal drug network from jail having nexus with gangsters.

Justice N.S. Shekhawat said, "such an attempt made by a criminal clearly amounts to interference in the administration of justice and clearly a case for criminal contempt is made out against such persons.At the same time, this incident highlights a criminal nexus between the criminals, jail officials and officials of Punjab Police."

"Earlier, only the general public was being threatened by the gangsters, but now an attempt has been made to obstruct the court of justice and it is a direct attack on the institution as well, and such interference in the administration of justice cannot be taken lightly," it added.

On 14.09.2026, the Court had issued notice of motion in the main petition. The DAG, Punjab, accepted notice for respondents No. 1 to 10 (the State), and the Court directed parawise replies by way of affidavits of respondents No. 2 and 3. It also directed the SHO of Police Station Ghuman, District Batala, to inform respondents No. 1 and 12 in writing about the pendency of the case.

On the next date, a status report by way of an affidavit of the Director General of Police, Punjab, was filed on behalf of the State and taken on record.

The petitioner also moved an application  under Section 528 of the BNSS, 2023, seeking directions to protect the life and liberty of his counsel and the counsel's family. The application alleged that gangsters in jail were threatening the counsel to withdraw the case.

The Threat

Counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Gobind Singh Randhawa, told the Court that at about 10:48 PM on 22.09.2026, two days before the hearing, he received a call on his mobile phone from an unknown international number. He said the caller threatened him and claimed to have a large network in Punjab and across the border, and said that jail and police officials had "joined hands" with them. Counsel said he disconnected the call.

According to counsel, he then received seven recorded voice messages and 17 missed calls. The messages allegedly said that certain individuals were facing severe difficulties in using mobile phones inside jail because of him, and demanded that he withdraw the petition. The caller also allegedly claimed to know about counsel's family members and threatened that "a lesson would be taught to them" if the petition was not withdrawn.

On counsel's oral request, the Court impleaded the Union Territory of Chandigarh as respondent. The Public Prosecutor for U.T. Chandigarh, who was present, accepted notice. The Court then directed, the SSP, Chandigarh, to register an FIR on the basis of the application filed by counsel and the DGP, Chandigarh, to immediately constitute a Special Investigation Team headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police, to investigate the matter fairly and impartially.

The SIT was directed to investigate, with liberty, the roles of criminals, police officials and jail officials who may be involved, and to take appropriate action against any officials found involved the SSP, Chandigarh, to assess the threat perception to counsel and his family members and to take action as per law

The Court expected that those who threatened counsel "would be arrested immediately". The head of the SIT must file a status report of the investigation by way of an affidavit.

The matter is listed on 30.10.2026 in the urgent list.

Case Title: Surpreet Kaur v. State of Punjab & Others

Counsel: Senior Advocate P.S. Sekhon, Gobind Singh Randhawa for the petitioner; Manish Bansal, Public Prosecutor, U.T. Chandigarh