PM Modi security breach: SC forms special committee headed by retired Judge to monitor probe

New Delhi, Jan 10:The Supreme Court of India on Friday indicated that it will appoint a committee led by a retired Supreme Court judge to enquire into the security lapses which saw the PM convoy stranded on a flyover in Punjab on January 5.

On January, the prime minister's convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur after which he returned from poll-bound Punjab without attending the planned events, including a rally.

The apex court also orally asked the Central Government and the Punjab Government to put on hold the proceedings of the respective committees constituted by them to enquire into the security lapse till next Monday.

"Ask both the committees to hold their operations till Monday. This will not be in order but it's understood", Chief Justice of India told the Solicitor General of India and the Advocate General of Punjab.

The Punjab government had cited apprehensions that it won't get a fair hearing from the Centre as politics is involved in the case.

The Punjab government AG said: "We will not get a fair hearing from the central government. They issued show-cause notices for disciplinary action against seven officials of the Punjab government. There has been no inquiry; all documents have been seized and the matter is before SC. How did they issue the notices?" he asked.

Senior advocate DS Patwalia, Advocate General of Punjab government, tells Supreme Court the records have been taken into consideration by the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, tells Supreme Court that showcause notices were issued to DG & Punjab Chief Secretary before the proceedings of Central govt's Committee was halted. No hearing done by the committee appointed, he says.

"Show-cause notices were issued to DG and Chief Secretary of Punjab before the proceedings of the Committee were halted," Mehta said.

The apex court on Friday had directed the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to "secure and preserve" the records pertaining to arrangements made for the prime minister's visit to Punjab when there was a "massive security breach".

It had also said the inquiry committees set up separately by the state and central governments will hold their horses and not proceed with their respective inquiries till January 10 when the matter will be taken up again by the court. The bench, however, did not dictate it as part of the order, and had asked the counsels to convey its feelings to the authorities.

The Registrar General of the High Court will be assisted by the Director General of Police, the Union Territory of Chandigarh, and an officer of the National Investigation Agency not below the rank of Inspector General in securing the requisite records from the state government, its police and central agencies, the bench had said.

The plea has sought a thorough investigation into the breach in Prime Minister Modi's security in Punjab to ensure there is no such event in the future.

It has also sought preservation of evidence on security arrangements, court-monitored probe and action against erring officials of the Punjab government responsible for the alleged lapse.