Photo: Collected
Bangla Press Desk: Notorious Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has once again come into the spotlight following an attack on Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff. Although his name has been linked to a series of crimes in Mumbai, the police are unable to interrogate him. Over the past three years, his gang has been accused of involvement in at least four major criminal incidents in the city.
Due to a directive from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Mumbai Police cannot bring Bishnoi out of Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat for questioning. According to the Ministry’s order, he cannot be moved from the prison to any other location. Consequently, even though his gang is implicated in a string of crimes in Mumbai, investigators are unable to question him directly.
There is a prohibition on removing Lawrence Bishnoi from prison for interrogation by any other agency. In August 2023, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Amit Shah, issued this order under Section 268 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
This order has recently been renewed under Section 303 of the new law, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). As a result, even if a court issues a standard production warrant, Lawrence Bishnoi cannot be taken out of the prison.
Similarly, requests by various investigative agencies to take him into custody for questioning cannot be entertained.
According to the Union Government, this measure has been implemented to maintain public order and prevent potential violence during his transport. However, investigative agencies may question him via video conference. Alternatively, with permission from the appropriate court, he can also be interrogated inside the prison.
Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi is an accused in multiple cases across various Indian states, including Punjab, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.
He also faces legal cases abroad. Since 2023, he has been incarcerated at Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
It is alleged that even while in prison, members of his gang continue to engage in criminal activities, including the murder of individuals and the issuance of threats. Lawrence Bishnoi is not the first high-profile prisoner to be placed under such restrictions regarding his transfer from prison. In 2015, underworld don Chhota Rajan was granted similar protective measures. Following his arrest in Indonesia, he was extradited to India and held in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
During his time in prison, Chhota Rajan claimed in media interviews that his life would be at risk if he were taken to Mumbai. He alleged that certain Mumbai Police officers were working on behalf of his rival, Dawood Ibrahim. Meanwhile, Anmol Bishnoi—Lawrence Bishnoi’s younger brother—has also been subject to similar protective arrangements; he was held in Delhi’s Tihar Jail following his extradition to India from the United States last year.
In April 2024, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi came under the scrutiny of the Mumbai Police after hired assailants from his gang opened fire outside actor Salman Khan’s residence, Galaxy Apartments, in Bandra. According to the police, the attack was part of a plot to assassinate Salman Khan.
It is alleged that Salman Khan has long been a target of Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang. The gang has claimed that other individuals—including actor Tiger Shroff—have been targeted due to their close association with Salman Khan. Following an incident involving Tiger Shroff on Sunday, the gang issued further threats.
They have demanded that Salman Khan apologize to Lawrence Bishnoi and the Bishnoi community regarding his alleged involvement in the poaching of a blackbuck. They warned that if he fails to do so, no one in his family—not even his pet dogs—will be spared.
Earlier, in October 2024, members of Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang were allegedly linked to the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique in Bandra, Mumbai. Although the police identified Lawrence Bishnoi as an accused in the case, they were unable to take him into custody. Subsequently, filmmaker Rohit Shetty also received threats demanding extortion money. These incidents have raised concerns regarding the security of Bollywood stars.
BP/TD
