Supreme Court takes control of investigation in PM’s security lapse

New Delhi, Jan 7 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the separate investigations ordered by the Punjab and Central governments into the breach of security when Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to the state on Wednesday.
A Bench led by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli stayed the work of the two committees till January 10 when the apex court will hear the matter again.
The court asked the Centre and Punjab to hold hands while proceeding with any inquiry.
It asked the two committees — formed by the Punjab government and the Union Home Ministry — to refrain from inquiries till Monday.
Senior advocate D S Patwalia, Advocate General of Punjab, requested the Bench to pass an order to put on hold the proceedings of the Central panel as it has issued notices to the Punjab DGP and state officials.
Patwalia said Punjab will put on hold the operations of its own two-member committee.
At the same time, the Supreme Court directed the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to secure and preserve all the records related to the visit of Modi to Punjab in connection with the security breach.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, senior law officer representing the Centre, said some officer from the NIA should assist the High Court Registrar General in collecting the evidence including wireless messages related to Modi’s visit as the Registrar General may not be aware of the sources where the records can be got.
“We direct Punjab and police authorities, SPG and other agencies to cooperate and provide necessary assistance to seal the entire record,” said the Bench.
The top court was hearing a PIL seeking a judicial probe into the breach of security in Punjab.
The court said the Registrar General would take the assistance of the Director General of Police of Chandigarh and a senior NIA official in the collection of evidence.