The Supreme Court Friday turned down the Punjab government's plea seeking statements of witnesses who have deposed before former apex court judge Indu Malhotra to probe the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state in January 2022. A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan asked the state government to independently conduct the enquiry against delinquent officers without the aid of the statements. The top court appointed a committee headed by former judge Indu Malhotra on January 12, 2022, to probe the security breach. "After receipt of report of the committee, matter was taken up on August 25, 2022. Copy of report was directed to be supplied to Centre and state government. It was directed that report shall be kept in sealed cover in the safe custody of secretary general of this court," the bench said. "It seems the Punjab government has now sent a letter seeking statements of witnesses to conduct further proceedings against delinquent ..