The High Court of Punjab & Haryana has stayed adverse remarks made by a Mohali Court against Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gursher Singh Sandhu during a hearing in an immigration fraud case and has sought a response from the concerned Judicial Officer.

The High Court bench, led by Vinod S Bhardwaj, acted on a plea from DSP Sandhu, who challenged the June 24 communication from Additional District & Sessions Judge Harsimranjit Singh.

This communication had directed the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) to conduct an inquiry against Sandhu following the judge's findings of "shoddy and botched up" investigations in two immigration cases, prompting the request for an inquiry by a senior IPS-level officer.

The letter read, “While probing two immigration cases Sandhu gave culprits a clean chit & real victims were named as culprits”. “...it emanates from the record that inquiry officer (Sandhu) has conducted biased, misdirected & tainted inquiry probably to shield some of the culprits".

Sandhu, appearing before the High Court, contended that the local court had made unwarranted and unnecessary adverse remarks against him in various orders, which were not relevant to the adjudication of the cases. The plea further argued that the judicial officer, instead of issuing judicial orders that could be challenged through appropriate legal channels, wrote a letter to the DGP seeking an inquiry without citing any legal provision authorizing such administrative action.

In its interim order, the High Court stated, "In the meanwhile, the adverse observations recorded in the orders brought before this court shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing." The Court has asked for a response from the Punjab government and the judicial officer by October 10, questioning why the June 24 communication should not be stayed.