Lawrence Bishnoi: Insight into the criminal life of India’s most feared gangster

LAWRENCE Bishnoi may be in prison but that has not limited the reach of his influence or his criminal empire.

Here you will find everything we know about the gangster from India.

Who is Lawrence Bishnoi?

Lawrence Bishnoi was born on February 12, 1993 in Ferozepur, Punjab, India.

During his college years, he began his journey into the criminal underworld.

Bishnoi studied law at DAV College in Chandigarh before completing his studies at Panjab University.

In 2011, Bishnoi joined the student council of Panjab University Campus, where he first met Goldy Brar.

Brar later became an important member of his criminal network.

Criminal empire

Bishnoi’s criminal record is extensive: he has over two dozen cases registered against him, including charges of murder and extortion.

His gang is believed to have over 700 members, including senior members living abroad.

Between 2010 and 2012, several First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against him in Chandigarh – written documents created by the police when they receive information about the commission of a crime.

These included offenses such as attempted murder, trespassing, assault and robbery.

Of the seven FIRs lodged against him in Chandigarh, he was acquitted in four cases, three of which are still pending in court.

Since 2012, Bishnoi has spent most of his time in prison.

This does not appear to have hindered his criminal activities.

Bishnoi used his time in prison to forge alliances with other criminals and expand his network.

During his time away from prison, he reportedly networked with arms dealers and local criminals, further expanding his illegal empire.

In 2013, Bishnoi reportedly shot dead the winning candidate in the Government College elections in Muktsar and an opposing candidate in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections.

He also specialized in the alcohol trade and provided refuge for his gang’s murderers.

In 2014, Bishnoi was involved in an armed confrontation with the Rajasthan Police, which led to his re-arrest.

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Operations from prison

He is said to have continued to stage murders in prison.

Bishnoi also reportedly tied up with Jaswinder Singh, alias Rocky, a gangster-turned-politician, with associates remaining active from jail in Bharatpur, Rajasthan.

Rocky was later killed by another gangster, Jaipal Bhullar, in 2016 – and Bhullar met a similar fate in 2020.

Bishnoi’s influence continued to grow even during his imprisonment.

He reportedly ran a crime syndicate in Bharatpur Jail with the alleged support of prison staff.

In 2021, he was shifted to Tihar Jail in Delhi following a case filed against him under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA).

Despite his imprisonment, Bishnoi has managed to maintain control of his criminal empire through sophisticated communication methods.

He reportedly uses VoIP calls to communicate with staff outside of prison and has even given interviews to news channels while incarcerated.

Assassination of Baba Siddique

On Saturday, October 12, 2024, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique was shot dead by three assailants in Mumbai.

Two of the attackers were arrested by police and during interrogation claimed they had links to Bishnoi’s criminal network.

As of October 14, the third attacker remains at large and is being actively pursued by law enforcement.

The involvement of Bishnoi’s gang in this murder joins the growing list of high-profile crimes attributed to the notorious gangster.

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Other high-profile crimes

Bishnoi has been linked to several high-profile crimes including:

• The murder of gangster Sukhdool Singh (Sukha Duneke) in Canada in September 2021
• The assassination of Punjabi singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moose Wala in May 2022
• The assassination of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi, president of the Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena, in December 2023

Threats against Bollywood actor Salman Khan

One of the most alarming aspects of Bishnoi’s criminal activities is his persistent threats against Bollywood actor Salman Khan.

In June 2024, four men with ties to Bishnoi’s gang were arrested while planning an attack on Khan’s car.

The Bishnoi gang has also threatened and attacked people believed to be close to or supportive of the Bollywood star.

An example of this is the recent assassination of Baba Siddique, who was known to be a friend of Khan.

Why Bishnoi is after Khan

The main reason why Bishnoi and his gang are targeting Khan is the 1998 blackbuck poaching case involving Salman Khan.

Lawrence Bishnoi belongs to the Bishnoi community, which considers the blackbuck as a sacred animal.

The Bishnoi are a Hindu sect in India known for their environmental conservation efforts.

They were upset when Khan was accused of hunting and killing two deer bucks during filming in Rajasthan.

Lawrence Bishnoi, who was only about five years old at the time of the poaching, made it his mission to target Khan as revenge on behalf of his community.

The Bishnoi community was deeply dismayed by Khan’s alleged crackdown on the blackbuck.

The rise of Lawrence Bishnoi as India’s most feared gangster highlights the complex nature of organized crime in the country.