NIA arrests Anmol Bishnoi; was absconding since 2022

New Delhi: A day after gangster Anmol Bishnoi was deported from the United States, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday said they have arrested the brother and close aide of dreaded gangster Lawrence Bishnoi on his deportation from the US to India. Anmol was produced before a Delhi NIA court and remanded to 11-day NIA custody.

Anmol has been absconding since 2022 and is the 19th accused to be arrested for his involvement in the terror syndicate led by his jailed brother. Anmol is listed as accused number 13 in various NIA charge sheets. The first case against Anmol was registered in 2012 for attempted murder at Fazilka in Punjab under the Arms Act.

Jailed Lawrence is said to be the mastermind who brought together the criminal gangs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chandigarh. "The growth of Lawrence Bishnoi and his terror syndicate have tremendous similarities to the rise of Dawood Ibrahim, a wanted terrorist, gangster and drug kingpin who heads the notorious organised terror syndicate D-Company," as per the NIA.


In a statement, the agency said, "Anmol was chargesheeted by the NIA in March 2023 after investigations in the case established that he had actively aided designated individual terrorist Goldy Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi in the commission of various acts of terrorism in the country during 2020-2023."

"Operating closely with various Bishnoi gang associates, Anmol continued to run terror syndicates and execute terrorist acts from the US for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, using its operatives on the ground. Investigations revealed that Anmol Bishnoi had provided shelter and logistic support to the gang's shooters and ground operatives. He was also engaged in extortion in India from foreign soil with the help of other gangsters," it stated.

It may be recalled that Lawrence and Satinderjit Singh, alias Goldy Brar, now based in Canada, were studying in Panjab University, Chandigarh, from 2009 to 2014. The two became close friends because they were both players and students at the same university and used to practice together every day. In 2009-10, an FIR was registered against Lawrence in Chandigarh for firing on the then party president of PUSU (Panjab University Student Union) Uday Warring and he was lodged in Chandigarh jail.

After release from jail, Lawrence formed a gang with Goldy Brar, Vikram Brar, Anmol Bishnoi, Sachin Thapan and Sampat Nehra and started visiting several colleges and confronted opponents to establish supremacy in politics, as per NIA investigations.