New Delhi: Until about two and a half years ago, Anmol Bishnoi was merely the twentysomething brother of a jailed gangster. Not anymore. With the National Investigation Agency (NIA) last month declaring a reward of Rs 10 lakh for any information that might lead to his arrest, the 26-year-old is no longer in the shadow of elder brother Lawrence.
Less than three years since he stepped in as Lawrence’s proxy in the Bishnoi-Brar-Godara crime syndicate, Anmol’s alleged involvement has now cropped up in at least three high profile cases—the killing of Sidhu Moosewala, the firing incident outside Salman Khan’s house and the killing of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique.
As ThePrint reported earlier, those arrested in connection with these cases claimed during interrogation that they were in touch with Anmol Bishnoi.
The NIA has named Anmol, who is believed to have fled India on a fake passport after Moosewala’s killing, as an accused in a 2022 case lodged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The case in question pertains to members of “criminal syndicates based in India and abroad” who are likely to “raise funds, recruit youth to carry out terrorist acts” in New Delhi and other parts of the country.
The FIR in this case, a copy of which is with ThePrint, states that these gang members carried out “spectacular heinous crimes,” including targeted killings, to strike terror in the minds of the people.
Court documents show Anmol was at some point lodged in a Rajasthan jail in a 2017 case in which he faced charges of criminal conspiracy and attempt to murder, among others.
He, however, isn’t an accused in any case registered with the Delhi Police Special Cell, it is learnt.
In July, a Mumbai court issued a non-bailable warrant against Anmol, who police sources have reason to believe may have fled to Azerbaijan and is now suspected to be either in Dubai, Kenya or Canada.
“Anmol was interrogated and arrested in cases where he had claimed innocence and that he was arrested just because he is Lawrence’s younger brother. He fled from India for fear of getting arrested after Moosewala’s murder,” a police source said.
Another added, “Lawrence’s syndicate is huge and he is in jail. He is also always on the radar of agencies. So, Anmol who escaped from India,now represents him in this alliance to assure his place is safe.”
Investigators also said that besides allegedly training new recruits, Anmol is now also suspected to be overseeing delivery of arms and transfer of funds for the Bishnoi-Brar-Godara syndicate.
The long arm of Anmol Bishnoi
According to the chargesheet filed by Mumbai Police in the Salman Khan firing case, it was Anmol who directed the two shooters to fire shots outside the actor’s house, telling them they would script history.
On 14 April, two bike-borne men fired multiple shots outside the actor’s residence in Mumbai. That same day, Anmol claimed responsibility for it in a purported Facebook post. Within 24 hours, two men identified as the shooters were arrested from Gujarat’s Bhuj.
Sources in Mumbai police said planning for the attack had begun in August 2022. An audio clip mentioned in the chargesheet suggests Anmol had braced the two shooters by telling them, “Lord Ram has blessed us. We will handle him [Salman Khan]. There is no problem, as long as it is in my control, I don’t have any problem.”
“Now it is do or die, either life or death. It is written by god. Either the bullets will be fired in the morning or we will sit at home. It is in your hands what to do and what not to do … if you work, then history will be scripted. You will fill the newspapers,” he reportedly told them.
Anmol, it is learnt, was also in touch with the accused in the Baba Siddique case and allegedly arranged pistols used in the fatal attack.
“He [Anmol] was in regular contact with new recruits and would inform the others about who can be given what task. Lonkar brothers, accused in the Siddiqui case, were also in touch with him,” said the second police source quoted earlier.
A three-time MLA, Siddique was shot outside his son Zeeshan’s office in Mumbai’s Bandra East on 12 October. According to news agency PTI, a total of 15 individuals have been arrested in connection with the killing, including two of the three who were at the scene of crime.
Investigators suspect he also facilitated arms and logistics for killers of Moosewala, who was shot in Punjab’s Mansa on 29 May 2022. Six men identified as shooters have been arrested in connection with the case.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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