Lawrence Bishnoi and his criminal empire

The recent assassination of former MLA and Mumbai corporator Baba Siddique has once again thrust the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang into the spotlight. As the investigation unfolds, reports have linked the gangster to the gruesome murder, raising concerns about the growing influence of his gang, which has been implicated in several high-profile crimes, both in India and abroad. This article traces the roots of the gang and the criminal empire the gangster has built over the past decade.

Infamous gangster #LawrenceBishnoi is in news again, this time for claiming responsibility for the murder of Congress and NCP's politician #BabaSiddique aka Ziauddin Siddique pic.twitter.com/blA80nGZgm

— The Squirrels (@thesquirrelsin) October 14, 2024

Baba Siddique's assassination

The murder of Baba Siddique has sent shockwaves through Mumbai’s political and social circles. Early investigations suggest that the killing may have been orchestrated by the Bishnoi gang, a group that has become infamous for its involvement in multiple violent crimes across India. Siddique’s assassination highlights the dangerous nexus between organised crime and politics, further exposing the law-and-order challenges Maharashtra faces.

This is not the first time the criminal gang has been linked to a high-profile crime. The group has gained notoriety for being involved in several sensational cases, including murder plots targeting celebrities, political figures, and even international operatives.

Origins of Bishnoi gang

Lawrence was born on February 12, 1993, in Fazilka in Ferozpur, Punjab. The criminal, who initially appeared to be an ordinary student with above-average academic performance, later emerged as a key figure in India’s organised crime scene. His descent into crime began at Panjab University in Chandigarh, where he joined the university's student council in 2011. It was during this period that the would-be mobster befriended Goldy Brar, another student-turned-gangster.

The two became deeply involved in student politics, often resorting to violence to assert dominance. As their influence grew, they ventured beyond university politics, expanding their operations to include extortion, kidnappings, and targeted killings.

Racket of violence: India to Canada

Bishnoi's criminal ambitions soon outgrew Chandigarh. While still based in India, the desperado forged strong connections with associates in Canada, especially through his brother Anmol Bishnoi, laying the foundation for what would become a transnational criminal network. Lawrence's college mate Goldy Brar aka Satinderjeet Singh, currently based in Canada, emerged as one of the key operatives of the lumpen element abroad, coordinating several operations remotely.

The gang’s involvement in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022 brought their violent network to the public eye. The pusher, operating from witha in prison in Rajasthan, was identified as the mastermind behind the assassination. Goldy Brar later claimed responsibility for the murder, citing "revenge" as the motive. This incident exposed how deeply entrenched the gang of malefactors was in the criminal underworld and international circles.

The network’s reach was not limited to India. The thug and his associates were later linked to the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Reports suggested that the gang was expanding operations into North America, using their overseas contacts to commit and coordinate violent acts.

Threats to Bollywood and Mumbai’s criminal underworld

In the entertainment capital of Mumbai, the gang of baddies has repeatedly made headlines for their alleged attempts on the lives of Bollywood celebrities. One of the most widely reported incidents was a plot to assassinate actor Salman Khan. The mafioso publicly issued threats against the actor in connection with a 1998 blackbuck poaching case, as the crook, a member of the Bishnoi community, considers the blackbuck sacred.

While the attempt on Khan's life was thwarted, the incident raised concerns about Mumbai’s vulnerability to organised crime, even in circles traditionally seen as being under tight security. The threats from the band of hitmen also revived memories of the 1990s, when Mumbai’s underworld, dominated by Dawood Ibrahim, had a vice-like grip over Bollywood and politics.

Criminal empire and law evasion

Despite being imprisoned, Bishnoi has continued to operate his gang through a network of associates and loyalists spread across multiple Indian states. His influence extends beyond Punjab, reaching Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. The gang primarily engages in extortion, targeted killings, and smuggling operations.

Authorities have faced challenges in dismantling the gang of hoodlums, as the ruffian’s operations are decentralised and connected to criminals operating abroad. This decentralised structure, combined with international hideouts such as Canada, has enabled the gang to evade law enforcement efforts effectively.

Maharashtra’s crime challenges: No end in sight

The involvement of the gang of cads in Siddique’s murder underscores the persistent law-and-order problems plaguing Maharashtra. The state has been grappling with high-profile criminal incidents, such as the 2020 deaths of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and his associate Disha Salian, as well as the planting of explosives near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence.

Additionally, the lynching of sadhus in Palghar shocked the nation and further exposed the governance issues in the state.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics for 2022, Maharashtra registered 3,74,038 criminal cases under the IPC, including 8,218 cases of rioting — the highest in the country. The state also recorded 2,295 murder cases (third-highest) and 2,904 rape cases (fourth-highest). Despite several changes in the government, these figures reveal a continuing trend of lawlessness across the state.

Growing menace

The assassination of Baba Siddique and the Bishnoi gang’s expanding influence reflects a troubling shift in India’s organised crime landscape. What began as a student-politics rivalry in Chandigarh has grown into a formidable criminal empire with international operations and infiltration into Indian politics and entertainment. Maharashtra’s struggle with law and order, exemplified by cases like Siddique’s murder, shows that the state has yet to overcome its crime problem, regardless of who is in power.

The criminal’s ability to operate seamlessly from prison and his transnational connections raise serious questions about the effectiveness of Indian law enforcement in tackling organised crime. With high-profile killings becoming more frequent and the gang’s influence spreading across continents, Maharashtra—and indeed India—must take decisive action to curb the rise of these criminal networks.