Enforcement Directorate Raids in Lawrence Bishnoi Case

Enforcement Directorate Raids in Lawrence Bishnoi Case

Enforcement Directorate Raids in Lawrence Bishnoi Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted extensive raids in Haryana and Rajasthan in connection with the case of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The operation, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targeted the residences of individuals linked to Bishnoi, who is currently in prison and implicated in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.

Background of the Case

• Sidhu Moose Wala was fatally shot in Punjab’s Mansa district on May 29, in what appeared to be an inter-gang rivalry, with the Bishnoi gang’s involvement suspected by the Punjab Police.
• Bishnoi is facing trial under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and was held in Tihar jail.

Bishnoi’s Criminal Activities and Arrest

• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Bishnoi in November 2022 from Bathinda jail, Punjab, for his involvement in a conspiracy with terror groups and criminal syndicates to commit violent acts across India.
• He has been orchestrating his criminal activities from jail, using a network of operatives both in India and abroad.
• In November 2023, the NIA filed the third chargesheet against him and others in the terror gangster network case.

Charges and Legal Proceedings

• Bishnoi and his associates face charges under Section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 17, 18, and 18(B) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
• The NIA filed its initial chargesheet against 14 accused in March, followed by a supplementary chargesheet against three more individuals in August.
• Bishnoi has been linked to numerous cases involving targeted killings and other criminal activities across several Indian states.

Current Status

• Bishnoi has been in jail since 2014 following his capture during a clash with the Rajasthan Police.
• After being relocated to Tihar jail, he was apprehended by the Punjab Police in June and transferred to Punjab in connection with Sidhu Moose Wala’s murder.

The ED’s raids are a significant step in the ongoing investigation into Lawrence Bishnoi’s extensive criminal network and its financial undertakings. The multi-state operation underscores the seriousness of the charges against Bishnoi and the efforts to dismantle his criminal operations.