The gangster-for-all-seasons and reasons is back. Lawrence Bishnoi has captured the Indian imagination once again this week. This time, it was Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who named him for his involvement in targeting Sikh radicals.
All week, various conspiracy theories about Bishnoi have swirled. Some label him as the newest gun-for-hire, while others refer to him as a “patriot” and a “lion”. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma waded in, calling him “good looking.” From Sidhu Moosewala to Salman Khan, to Baba Siddiqui, and now Canada—there is no escaping this new kid on the gangsta block. This is why Lawrence Bishnoi is ThePrint’s Newsmaker of the Week.
His photo, in a black hoodie, orange t-shirt, and well-trimmed beard and moustache, has been dominating the news cycle. Journalist Vir Sanghvi pointed out in an opinion piece that, if the theories surrounding Bishnoi are to be believed, he has achieved what underworld Don Dawood Ibrahim could not. Newslaundry published a piece detailing the who’s who of Bishnoi’s “PR Brigade.”
However, across social media, not everyone buys into the Bishnoi narrative. Some say that if is indeed guilty of the accusations against him, it wouldn’t be possible without “white collars” helping him, with a few even coining the term “sarkari gangster.” Hindu right-wingers have hailed him as a “patriot” and a “lion” for threatening Salman Khan, especially after news broke of comedian Munawar Faruqui being on his “list”.
Meanwhile, Amit Jani, a Noida-based producer, has announced plans to create a web series about his life.
Also read: If you believe the theories, Lawrence Bishnoi is doing what even Dawood Ibrahim couldn’t
Lawrence Bishnoi, Punjab to Canada
When 28-year-old Moosewala was killed in Punjab’s Mansa, Lawrence Bishnoi was in a high-security jail in Delhi’s Tihar after being charged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in 2021.
Throughout his time in prison since 2014, he had access to a phone, allowing him to keep tabs on the planning of the murder. In fact, he reportedly stalked the Congress leader and singer on Instagram. The bullets for Moosewala’s murder were carved out after Bishnoi and Goldy Brar’s brother, youth Akali Dal leader Vicky Middukhera, was killed allegedly by members of the rival Bambiha gang. Reels on social media from Moosewala’s song ‘Bambiha Bole’ made things worse.
After his associate Goldy Brar was informed by the shooters that the job was done, investigators from the Special Cell interrogated Bishnoi. Some shooters were arrested, while others—pawns of the Bishnoi gang—were killed in an encounter with the Punjab police.
While Bishnoi’s name had appeared in several cases before, the Mossewala case gave him an imperial status. Then came Baba Siddiqui’s murder this year, and now Canada has accused India of using him to carry out hits on foreign soil.
The 31-year-old, sitting in Sabarmati jail, must be grinning at the fact that he is not just a “hot topic” in India anymore, but also a matter of diplomatic fallout between two countries.
Whether he has played a role in any of these high-profile cases or whether he is being used by RAW remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: all of this has only enhanced his clout, and young fans are increasingly falling for it. He could be compared to Dawood Ibrahim, but only time will tell about his great fall.
As for the nearly three dozen cases against him, Indian police are ensuring they withstand judicial scrutiny. We all know how cases lacking solid evidence often result in acquittals.
Lawrence Bishnoi’s Blackbuck obsession
Born in Punjab’s Fazilka district in 1993, Bishnoi was a hot-blooded student at Panjab University. One thing he did right was choosing the right friends, , aligning himself with figures from both Punjab (Goldy Brar) and Haryana (Sampat Nehra).
After being arrested in 2014, he was supported by his godfather, Jaswinder Singh alias Rocky, a failed politician and gangster who started off with petty crimes but is now accused of smuggling narcotics and arms—cases that are giving Indian investigative agencies a run for their money.
Hailing from a humble background, Bishnoi’s father was a farmer. He wanted to study law but had his first brush with the legal system during university elections in 2011-2012.
When Salman Khan allegedly killed two blackbucks in 1998, Bishnoi was just five years old. Nonetheless, he vowed to kill the Bollywood actor for hurting the feelings of the Bishnoi community. From allegedly sending shooters to Khan’s Bandra home to devising a plot to murder him at his Panvel farmhouse, Bishnoi has made it clear he won’t relent until Khan seeks forgiveness.
It is important to note that Bishnoi, now one of the most talked about gangsters—accused of everything under the sun both in India and Canada—has been orchestrating murders, extortions, and threats to real estate builders, actors, Punjabi singers, all from behind bars since 2014.
Bishnoi has been transferred across at least seven jails, and even jail officials are accused of complicity in enabling his impunity. He has issued death threats to them as well. Whenever his allies, like Rohit Godara and Brar, claim responsibility for targeted killings and high-profile threats—such as those against singers AP Dhillon and Gippy Grewal—Bishnoi’s “glamorous” status in the underworld elevates. Young followers often flood his fan pages, calling him “Bishnoi bhai” and using hashtags like “Lawrence Bishnoi gang.”
Lawrence Bishnoi gang, a big bloody family
Bloodshed, threats, and rival killings are common in ganglands worldwide, but Lawrence Bishnoi’s clout stems from his skills as a master negotiator.
Investigators say that while he is named in various cases, proving his active involvement is the main catch.
During his decade behind bars, Bishnoi has maintained connections with allies. His way of functioning is described as “political,” putting the Bishnoi gang on the map across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and even in Maharashtra and Gujarat. His lesser-known brother, Anmol Bishnoi, has loyally helped expand their influence.
His negotiating skills have allowed the syndicate to grow to 700 active members, with an increasing number of young men—even minors—taking on roles as sharpshooters.
Bishnoi may even be called lucky.
When the northern belt needed a leader, his ally Jitender Mann Gogi was shot dead by the rival Tillu Tajpuriya gang. Tillu was later killed in Delhi’s Tihar. Moreover, Anand Pal, who ruled Rajasthan, was killed in an encounter in 2017, and another rival, Raju Thet, in 2022. This created a space for Bishnoi to rise to the top, especially as both Godara and Brar are abroad.
Moreover, Anuradha Choudhary, who allegedly worked with Pal, recently married Kala Jathedi, a Bishnoi ally. It has now become one big, bloody happy family.
Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)