Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently serving a jail term in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Central prison, remains a household name when it comes to crime. Despite his alleged involvement in several high-profile murder and attempt-to-murder cases in Mumbai, the city Crime Branch has been unable to obtain his custody. Lawrence Bishnoi’s name also surfaced in connection with the shooting incident outside Salman Khan’s residence in April this year. Following this, the Mumbai Police filed multiple petitions to secure his custody, all of which were denied by the courts.
Recently, Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang claimed responsibility for the murder of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique, prompting the Mumbai Police to investigate his possible involvement. Additionally, three individuals arrested in connection with the case have identified themselves as members of his gang.
Why Doesn’t Mumbai Police Have Lawrence Bishnoi’s Custody?
The primary reason Mumbai police does not have Lawrence Bishnoi’s custody is an order from the Union Home Ministry that restricts the gangster from being transferred from Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad. This directive, issued under Section 268(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), empowers the government to restrict the movement of high-profile prisoners when it may pose a threat to law and order. Initially set to expire in August 2024, this order has now been extended.
In August 2023, Lawrence Bishnoi was moved from Delhi’s Tihar Jail to Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad in connection with a drug smuggling case. With numerous criminal charges against him, Lawrence Bishnoi also claimed responsibility for the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Despite his incarceration, his gang continues to operate under the direction of three wanted criminals residing abroad: his brother Anmol Bishnoi, Goldie Brar, and Rohit Godar. According to an NIA chargesheet, this syndicate has expanded rapidly, reminiscent of how Dawood Ibrahim built his criminal empire in the 1990s, starting from petty crimes.
In the ongoing investigation into Baba Siddique’s murder, two suspects arrested by the Mumbai Police on Sunday claimed affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Subsequently, a social media post was made from an account allegedly linked to the gang, claiming responsibility for the murder. The police are currently verifying the authenticity of the post and its connection to Lawrence Bishnoi.
The gang’s statement indicated that they targeted Siddique due to his close relationship with Bollywood star Salman Khan, who has been under threat from the gang since he was implicated in the poaching of two blackbucks, which hold cultural significance for the Bishnoi community.
The post further warned that anyone aiding Salman Khan or “the Dawood gang” should be “prepared for consequences”. Over the past few years, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has repeatedly targeted Salman Khan, including a recent incident in April when gunmen fired shots outside his Mumbai residence. In June 2022, the gang allegedly sent a handwritten threat to Khan, warning him that he could meet the same fate as Sidhu Moose Wala.