CALIFORNIA: Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has been detained in California, USA, marking a major breakthrough in the international crackdown on the Bishnoi criminal syndicate.
His capture follows weeks of legal maneuvering by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, which has been seeking his extradition to India for his alleged involvement in numerous high-profile crimes.
Anmol, who had evaded law enforcement for over two years, was apprehended by US authorities last week. The arrest followed a non-bailable warrant issued by the Mumbai Police and the discovery by the US Immigration Department that Bishnoi had entered the country using forged documents.
Intelligence reports reveal that Anmol fled India in May 2022, using an alias and fake passport to gain entry into the US. His detention is the result of coordinated efforts between Indian agencies—including the National Investigation Agency (NIA)—and their US counterparts.
Recently, FBI officials met with representatives from Indian law enforcement to review evidence against Bishnoi and discuss the roadmap for his extradition. While the US State Department has not commented on the specifics of the case, citing jurisdictional issues with the Department of Homeland Security, the process to return him to India is reportedly underway.
Anmol Bishnoi is implicated in at least 18 criminal cases, ranging from murder to extortion and arms smuggling.
The most high profile murders include the Sidhu Moosewala murder in May 2022. Anmol allegedly provided weapons and logistical support to the gunmen who killed the Punjabi singer-turned-politician; the shooting at Salman Khan’s residence in April 2022. He is accused of motivating the shooters involved in an attack outside the Bollywood actor’s Mumbai home, urging them to “make history”; and the murder of Baba Siddique: Investigators claim Anmol was in direct contact with the perpetrators of the killing of the former Maharashtra legislator.
Additionally, Anmol was briefly incarcerated in Jodhpur Jail in 2021 but absconded after being released on bail. He reportedly shifted between locations, with sightings at a wedding in California further complicating efforts to apprehend him.
The arrest of Anmol Bishnoi is a significant blow to the Bishnoi gang, a transnational criminal network linked to violent crimes, extortion, terrorism, and drug trafficking. His detention is seen as part of broader international efforts to dismantle the gang’s operations and bring its members to justice.
Indian authorities are pressing for Anmol’s extradition, and if approved, he will be handed over to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, which is leading investigations into his alleged crimes.
The Bishnoi criminal network remains a formidable threat, with its international reach and involvement in organized crime. However, this arrest underscores the growing collaboration between global law enforcement agencies to combat transnational criminal activities.
