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

LAWRENCE Bishnoi may be incarcerated, but that hasn't stemmed the reach of his influence or criminal empire.

Here's everything we know about the gangster from India.

Who is Lawrence Bishnoi?

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

He began his journey into the criminal underworld during his college years.

Bishnoi studied law, attending DAV College in Chandigarh before completing his degree at Panjab University.

In 2011, Bishnoi joined the Panjab University Campus Students' Council, where he first encountered Goldy Brar.

Brar went on to become a key associate in his criminal network.

Criminal empire

Bishnoi's criminal record is extensive, with over two dozen cases registered against him, including charges of murder and extortion.

His gang is believed to have over 700 members, including top-ranking members who live overseas.

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

These were for offences including attempted murder, trespassing, assault and robbery.

Out of the seven FIRs filed against him in Chandigarh, he was acquitted in four cases, with three remaining under trial.

Since 2012, Bishnoi has spent the majority of his time incarcerated.

This doesn't seem to have hindered his criminal activity.

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

During the periods while he wasn't behind bars, he reportedly connected with arms dealers and local criminals, further growing his illegal empire.

In 2013, Bishnoi reportedly gunned down the winning candidate of the Government College elections in Muktsar, as well as a rival candidate in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections.

He also diversified into liquor dealing and provided refuge for murderers within his gang.

In 2014, Bishnoi was involved in an armed confrontation with Rajasthan Police, leading to him being arrested again.

Operations from prison

While in jail, he has allegedly continued to orchestrate murders.

According to reports, Bishnoi also formed a connection with Jaswinder Singh, AKA Rocky, a gangster-turned-politician, with the associates remaining active in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, from prison.

Rocky was later killed by another gangster, Jaipal Bhullar, in 2016 — with Bhullar meeting a similar fate in 2020.

Bishnoi's influence continued to grow even while incarcerated.

In Bharatpur jail, he reportedly ran a criminal syndicate with alleged assistance from jail staff.

In 2021, he was transferred to Tihar jail in Delhi due to a case filed against him under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Despite being incarcerated, Bishnoi has managed to maintain control over his criminal empire through sophisticated communication methods.

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

Assassination of Baba Siddique

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

Two of the attackers were arrested by police and claimed during interrogation that they were connected to Bishnoi's criminal network.

As of October 14, the third assailant remains at large, with law enforcement actively pursuing him.

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

Other high-profile crimes

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

• The killing of gangster Sukhdool Singh (Sukha Duneke) in Canada in September 2021
• The murder 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 to 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 links to Bishnoi's gang were arrested while planning an attack on Khan's car.

The Bishnoi gang has also threatened and attacked people perceived to be close to or helping the Bollywood star.

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

Why Bishnoi is after Khan

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

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

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

They were angered when Khan was accused of hunting and killing two blackbucks while filming in Rajasthan.

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

The Bishnoi community was deeply upset by Khan's alleged actions against the blackbuck.

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