Lawrence Bishnoi Home Ministry: In a significant development concerning the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, the Home Ministrys order has prevented the Mumbai Police from securing the custody of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Currently incarcerated in Sabarmati Jail, Bishnoi is under investigation for Siddiques murder and faces multiple charges.Bishnois gang claims responsibility for recent menaceLawrence Bishnois gang has recently claimed responsibility for various violent incidents, including a shooting outside Bollywood actor Salman Khans residence in April and the subsequent killing of Siddique. However, the Mumbai Polices attempts to transfer Bishnoi from Sabarmati Jail have been consistently blocked due to restrictions imposed by the Home Ministry.According to media reports, the Mumbai Police submitted several requests for Bishnois custody following the April incident, but these were denied based on the Home Ministrys directive.Why is home ministry blocking Bishnois transferIn August, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs extended the limitations on Bishnois movement for an additional year, confining him to Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad. This extension means that any necessary questioning of Bishnoi regarding the Siddique murder must occur within the jails premises.The gangster is not only implicated in the recent murder but is also facing investigations by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for other ongoing cases.The order, which originated under Section 268 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), was set to expire this August but has been extended under Section 303 of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS). According to DIG Shweta Shrimali, this directive will remain in force until August 2025.Bishnois criminal historyLawrence Bishnois criminal record is extensive, with charges ranging from attempted murder to organized gang activities. Reports indicate that he has been orchestrating criminal operations from inside the prison, with a particular focus on targeting Salman Khan due to the actors involvement in the 1998 blackbuck hunting case.Bishnois threats against Khan have been well-documented, including a chilling statement during a 2018 court appearance where he declared, “We will kill Salman Khan in Jodhpur. Everyone will know once we take action.” His threats extend to others, including singer Gippy Grewal, highlighting a broader pattern of intimidation that authorities are now struggling to manage.
