Supreme Court asks Delhi government to seek information from IB on Hawar’s transfer request to Punjab jail

Beanta Singh’s killer Jagtar Singh Tara is taken to a local court by the Chandigarh police. File | Photo credit: AKHILESH KUMAR

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (Oct 13, 2026) asked the Delhi government to seek inputs from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) on Beant Singh murder convict Jagtar Singh Hawara’s request to be transferred from Tihar Jail in Delhi to a jail in Punjab.

A bench headed by Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale took a cautious approach, saying the case was sensitive and even the Punjab government seemed reluctant.

“We know that every sinner has a future… As someone said, if you kill a single person, you are a murderer. Kill several thousand, you are a conqueror… But we will have to look at the implications of the transfer to society,” Judge Sundresh said.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Delhi government, informed the apex court that Hawara was involved in the jailbreak and his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in the case of murder.

Arguing that the transfer could increase the chances of him escaping, Ms Bhati referred to the Home Office’s advice on transferring high-risk prisoners.

Lead barrister Colin Gonsalves, for Hawar, said he had personally visited his client in prison and found that he was fully reformed.

Ms. Bhati was referring to the Punjab government’s affidavit expressing concern about the impact of the Hawara amendment on the law and order situation in the state.

Mr Gonsalves said the assassination of the chief minister took place in 1995 when his client was just 21 years old.

“His mother is very old, 82 years old and in a serious condition. She is only seeking transfer to a maximum security prison in Punjab and is not asking for release. She has an impeccable record in prison,” Mr Gonsalves argued.

Hawara, Paramjit Singh Bheora, Tara and convicted murderer Devi Singh escaped from the high-security Burail Jail in Chandigarh in January 2004 by digging a tunnel nearly 100 feet long.

Hawara and Bheora were arrested again over the next two years. Tara, a proclaimed offender in this case, has been arrested from Thailand, while Devi Singh is absconding and has also been declared a proclaimed offender.

Published – 13 Oct 2026 23:13 IST