Lawrence Bishnoi shifted to Sabarmati jail’s ‘Block 200’, home to 2008 blasts convicts: Report

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has reportedly been moved to a specialised high-security block at Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Central Jail, where 200 inmates accused of terrorism and other serious offences are housed, according to a report by Times of India’s Raj Shekhar Jha.

The block, known as “Do Sau Kholi” or “Block 200”, is divided into four segregated sections, each accommodating 50 prisoners, to prevent inmates from moving between cells and ensure strict isolation. Bishnoi’s cell measures approximately 7.5 ft by 11 ft, sources in the know told ToI.

The transfer is part of an elaborate security arrangement aimed at restricting the gangster’s ability to communicate with the outside world and control his criminal network from behind bars.

Block 200 houses 2008 blasts convicts, other high-risk prisoners

Block 200 is a maximum-security section of Sabarmati Central Jail that houses convicts in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case, along with other prisoners accused or convicted in serious criminal cases. The section is meant for inmates facing stringent restrictions on movement outside prison, including under Section 303 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the report said.

Before his latest transfer, Bishnoi was lodged in “Dus Kholi”, a smaller high-security enclosure designed to accommodate just 10 inmates. He had earlier been held at Tihar Jail in Delhi and in several prisons in Punjab.

During his earlier stints in different jails, recorded calls in which Bishnoi allegedly threatened call centre owners had surfaced. A purported conversation between him and gangster Shehzad Bhatti had also emerged.

Bishnoi’s communication with the outside world has since reportedly come under tighter control. Before 2023-24, he routinely made extortion calls and circulated threatening audio and video messages to manage his network. He had also given interviews from different prisons. Investigators, however, have reported no direct calls or communications originating from him over the past two years, according to ToI.

Bishnoi’s isolation has not stopped his syndicate’s operations

Bishnoi is reportedly under round-the-clock surveillance, with physical interaction and digital access severely restricted. His contact with the outside world is said to be limited to court proceedings through video conferencing and discussions with his lawyer about legal strategy.

Inside his cell, he reportedly follows a disciplined routine, spending mornings meditating, reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, observing fasts and maintaining a vegetarian diet.

His reported isolation, however, has not brought his wider syndicate’s operations to a halt. The network is said to function through a decentralised chain of command, with senior associates coordinating activities from safe havens abroad.

A group described as a “shadow cabinet” reportedly oversees day-to-day operations, including recruitment, assigning tasks and logistics. Members also exchange screenshots, while a parallel group handles planning, financing and the selection of targets.

Among the key figures believed to be operating from abroad are Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara. Both have reportedly gone underground following the FBI’s Operation Hardball.

(With inputs from ToI)