Mumbai Police Custody For Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi Denied?

The Mumbai police have so far been unable to secure custody of the Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi who is currently imprisoned in Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail. 

Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Issue:

Despite claiming responsibility from Lawrence Bishnoi's gang for the April firing outside actor Salman Khan's residence and the recent assassination of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, the police have not been able to get custody.

According to sources, following the April attack on Salman Khan's home in Bantra, the Mumbai Police had filed multiple requests to transfer Bishnoi from Sabarmati Jail to Mumbai, but these were denied due to a Home Ministry directive barring such transfers. 

Lawrence Bishnoi is considered one of India’s gangsters, with several charges against him, including murder and extortion, and is believed to still be directing his operations from prison.

Reason Behind Baba Siddique's Murder:

In this case, a person identified as Lonkar made a Facebook post claiming that Baba Siddique's murder happened because he was linked to Dawood Ibrahim, and was close to Salman Khan. In addition, Lonkar also referenced the death of Anuj Thapan, one of the suspects in the firing incident, while in police custody. Following the post, police arrested Pravin Lonkar, the brother of the one who posted the social media post.

Who is Lawrence Bishnoi?

Lawrence Bishnoi, aged 31, is from Dhattaranwali, a village in Punjab's Ferozepur district. Despite coming from a family of farmers, Bishnoi's life took a criminal turn during his college days. 

After completing his schooling, he moved to Chandigarh in 2010 to pursue higher education at Panjab University’s DAV College. It was there that Bishnoi became deeply involved in student politics, even rising to the position of president of the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) in 2011-2012. 

However, his incursion into politics soon gave way to a criminal career, with student leadership acting as a façade for more shady activities. His first case was filed in 2010 and he was charged with attempted murder. 

Since then, Bishnoi’s list of criminal activities has grown, including extortion, assault, and even murder. Despite being behind bars in Sabarmati Jail, Bishnoi has continued to produce criminal operations from prison, leading to his rise as one of the most wanted gangsters in India.

The Grudge Against Salman Khan:

Bishnoi's gang has long held a deep resentment toward Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, believing that he must pay for an incident that occurred during the filming of the 1998 movie Hum Saath Saath Hain. 

During the shoot, Khan was involved in the illegal hunting of blackbuck deer, an endangered species that is highly revered by the Bishnoi community. The Bishnoi people, known for their devotion to the environment and animal conservation, view the blackbuck as sacred, and the incident triggered widespread outrage.

The Bishnoi community took offense at the actor’s actions, seeing it as a direct affront to their culture and traditions. Despite the passage of years, Lawrence Bishnoi’s hatred toward Khan remains strong. Bishnoi’s gang reportedly listed the actor as a top target due to this longstanding grudge which resulted in an attack on Salman's house in April 2024.

Sources report that the police are attempting to take Lawrence Bishnoi into custody. Additionally, Bollywood star Salman Khan now has a licensed gun for security.