Baba Siddique shot dead: Mumbai Police on Sunday confirmed the involvement of jailed gangster Lawerence Bishnoi in the killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique. He was shot dead by three assailants outside his son and Bandra MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s office while he was entering his car on Saturday night.
The killing has once again brought Bishnoi’s name to light. Born in 1993 in Punjab, Lawrence Bishnoi’s early years were spent in Abohar, but his life took a dramatic turn when he moved to Chandigarh in 2010 to join DAV College. It was here that he crossed paths with Goldy Brar, another figure whose name would later become synonymous with criminal activity.
Bishnoi and Brar ventured into university politics and soon began engaging in crimes within the campus. Bishnoi’s involvement in crime escalated rapidly during his time at Panjab University between 2010 and 2012. Several FIRs were filed against him for crimes including attempted murder, assault and robbery. Out of seven cases registered in Chandigarh, he was acquitted in four, while three remain pending.
His criminal activities didn’t stop at university. Bishnoi’s influence grew both inside and outside the prison system. During his stints behind bars, he formed alliances with other criminals, expanding his network. After his release, he made connections with arms dealers and local criminals, increasing the number of individuals tied to his gang. By 2013, Bishnoi had turned into a feared figure, involved in several killings, including the murder of a winning candidate in the Government College elections in Muktsar.
By 2013, Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang had begun venturing into liquor dealing and arms smuggling. He often sheltered murderers within his gang, providing them with protection and resources. A notable event in his life was an armed encounter with the Rajasthan Police in 2014. After being sent to jail, Bishnoi used this time to strategise, building a more organized and widespread criminal network. His gang is now affiliated with over 700 shooters across the country.
While Bishnoi operated from behind bars, he became closely associated with another prominent criminal figure, Jaswinder Singh, also known as Rocky, a gangster-turned-politician. Bishnoi and Rocky remained active in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur, until Rocky was shot dead in 2016 by Jaipal Bhullar. Bhullar, in turn, was killed in a police encounter in 2020.
Alleged Khalistani links
Even while being incarcerated, Bishnoi’s influence continued to grow. He reportedly ran his syndicate from inside Bharatpur jail, allegedly receiving help from jail staff. In 2021, he was transferred to Tihar Jail in Delhi after being charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Jail authorities have since stated that Bishnoi uses voice-over IP calls to coordinate with his associates outside.
A report by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) revealed that Bishnoi and Goldy Brar have connections with pro-Khalistan outfits, raising concerns about their involvement in organized crime with political motivations.
Threats to actor Salman Khan
In 2018, Bishnoi’s criminal enterprise reached a new level of notoriety when one of his close associates, Sampath Nehra, conducted a reconnaissance of Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s residence. Nehra claimed that he had been tasked with assassinating Khan in connection with the actor’s involvement in the Black Buck hunting case. During a court appearance in Jodhpur, Bishnoi openly threatened the actor, declaring, “Salman Khan will be killed here in Jodhpur.”
On April 14 this year, Khan woke up to the terrifying sound of gunshots fired right outside his Bandra residence by two men on a bike. The Mumbai Police claimed that the shooters were hired by Bishnoi’s gang.
Murder of Sidhu Moosewala
Bishnoi’s name resurfaced in 2022 when Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala was brutally murdered on May 29 in Mansa, Punjab. Goldy Brar, operating from abroad, claimed responsibility for the killing, stating that it was carried out in collaboration with Bishnoi, who was in Tihar Jail at the time. Following the murder, the Delhi Police Special Cell obtained custody of Bishnoi for investigation. Bishnoi expressed fears for his life, filing a plea with the Delhi High Court for protection, though he later withdrew it and moved his petition to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Assassination of Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi
In December 2023, right-wing leader Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi was shot dead in his Jaipur home. The murder, which was captured on video, showed three armed men having tea with Gogamedi before opening fire. Gogamedi was shot at least five times, and one of his security guards was injured in the gunfire exchange.
Rohit Godara, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the assassination in a Facebook post, further cementing the gang’s reputation for brazen killings.
Lawrence Bishnoi’s life has been marked by his rapid ascent from a student involved in university politics to one of India’s most notorious gangsters. With over two dozen criminal cases against him, including murder, extortion and arms smuggling, his influence continues to spread, even from behind bars.