Lawrence Bishnoi, jailed gangster named as a suspect in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, today withdrew his plea from Delhi High Court.

He has sought protection amid apprehension of “fake encounter” by Punjab police for “political mileage”. Bishnoi has decided to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court with the plea.

The matter came up for hearing before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma.

As the hearing began, Bishnoi’s counsel Adv. Vishal Chopra sought liberty for withdrawal of the plea and Advocate Sanjay Lao appearing for the Delhi Police, stated that the plea was not maintainable anyway.

The gangster had moved the high court after a NIA court of Patiala House Court junked his plea on Monday. In the plea, he sought a direction to the Delhi Police and the Tihar Jail authorities to ensure all necessary security arrangements for him.

Besides, the petitioner sought the court’s direction to Central Jail Authorities to give prior intimation to his counsels before his custody is given to any other state police on any production warrant.

The plea stated that he should be duly handcuffed, shackled and video-graphed during the production warrant and on transit remand if any warrant is produced by the Punjab police for the safety of his life.

The Punjab police has alleged that Bishnoi was involved in the murder of Sidhu Moosewala.

The accused is entitled to a fair and true investigation and a fair trial and the prosecution is expected to play a balanced role in the trial of a crime. The investigation should be judicious, fair, transparent and expeditious and the investigating authority should ensure the safety of any accused person, his plea said.

“Fair trial includes fair investigation as envisaged by Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution of India. The role of the police is to be for the protection of life, liberty and property of citizens, that investigation of offences being one of its foremost duties. That the aim of the investigation is ultimately to search for truth and to bring the offender to book,” the plea read.

Currently lodged in Tihar jail in a MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) case, Bishnoi is allegedly involved in more than five dozen criminal cases lodged against him in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab.

(With inputs from IANS)