Why Mumbai Police is unable to get gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s custody

The Mumbai Crime Branch continues to face challenges in securing the custody of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is lodged in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat, despite his name surfacing in high-profile cases. After his alleged involvement came to light in the firing incident at Salman Khan’s residence in April this year, the Mumbai Police filed multiple applications but could not succeed in getting custody of the notorious gangster.
On Sunday, the Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the murder of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique, and the Mumbai Police are probing his involvement. Shooters arrested for the killing have also claimed to be from the gang.
The key reason is an order by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which prohibits the transfer of Bishnoi from Sabarmati prison in Ahmedabad. The order, issued under Section 268 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), gives the government power to bar the movement of high-profile prisoners in the likelihood it may affect law and order. It was initially in effect until August 2024 but has now reportedly been extended.
Bishnoi was shifted to Sabarmati Central Jail from Delhi’s Tihar Jail in August 2023 in connection with a case of cross-border smuggling of drugs. The dreaded gangster has dozens of cases registered against him. He had also claimed responsibility for the fatal attack on Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.
While Bishnoi is incarcerated, the operations of his gang are overseen by three wanted gangsters based abroad– his brother Anmol Bishnoi, Goldy Brar, and Rohit Godar. The NIA’s chargesheet mentions that this terror syndicate have expanded at an unprecedented rate, similar to how Dawood Ibrahim built his network in the 1990s, beginning with minor crimes.
Two of the arrested accused in the murder of Baba Siddiqi told the Mumbai Police on Sunday that they belonged to the Bishnoi gang. Later, a social media post claiming responsibility for the murder was also posted from an account of an alleged member of the gang. The police said they are probing the authenticity of the post as well as the Bishnoi gang link.
The gang’s post mentioned that they targeted Siddiqui because of his close connection with Bollywood star Salman Khan, whom the Bishnoi gang has been targeting since he hunted two blackbucks, which are worshipped by the Bishnoi community. The post also threatened that anyone who helps Salman Khan or the Dawood gang should be prepared.
Salman Khan has been repeatedly targeted by the gang over the years, with the latest incident in April when two men on a motorcycle fired shots outside his Mumbai home. In June 2022, they allegedly sent a handwritten threat, warning the actor that he would meet the same fate as Sidhu Moose Wala.