The recent murder of Baba Siddique, a prominent politician and businessman in Maharashtra, has thrust notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi back into the headlines. Siddique, who had long ties with the Congress party before recently aligning with Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was shot dead on Saturday night. Two shooters apprehended in connection with the case have claimed affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has publicly taken responsibility for the crime via social media.
Baba Siddique was a significant figure in Mumbai’s political and business landscape, with considerable influence in Bollywood as well. His assassination has sent shockwaves across the nation, prompting widespread concern about the implications of such violence involving high-profile individuals. Sources within the Mumbai Crime Branch suggest that Lawrence Bishnoi targeted Siddique to send a stark warning to politicians, celebrities, and affluent businesspeople in Mumbai, signaling that if he could eliminate someone like Siddique, no one was safe.
Lawrence Bishnoi’s Criminal Path
Currently incarcerated in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Central Jail, Lawrence Bishnoi faces nearly 50 criminal charges, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, and extortion. His criminal history includes alleged involvement in the murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala and the assassination of a leader from the Karni Sena in Jaipur. Additionally, he has been linked to violent incidents involving Punjabi singers Gippy Grewal and AP Dhillon. This raises questions about how a 31-year-old like Lawrence Bishnoi has managed to orchestrate such high-profile crimes while behind bars.
The Rise of Lawrence Bishnoi
Lawrence Bishnoi, born Satwinder Singh in 1993 in Firozpur, Punjab, began his criminal journey during his college years. After moving to Chandigarh to attend DAV College in 2010, he became involved in student politics and met Goldie Brar, another figure entrenched in the criminal underworld. Frustrated by his defeat in a student union election, Lawrence Bishnoi allegedly committed his first murder on campus, which marked his entry into serious crime.
By 2012, he had amassed seven criminal cases related to violent acts, predominantly in the context of student politics. Over time, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang expanded its reach, reportedly operating in 11 states, including Punjab, Haryana, and Maharashtra, and even maintaining connections abroad in countries like the United States, Canada, and Russia.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang’s activities extend beyond borders, reportedly engaging in international smuggling of illegal weapons and narcotics. Their operations were funded through various illegal enterprises, including extortion from local businesses, the drug trade, and the sand mafia.
High-profile crimes attributed to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang include:
- The May 29, 2022, murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala, claimed by Goldie Brar.
- The September 20, 2023, murder of terrorist Sukhdul Singh in Canada.
- The November 25, 2023, attack on Punjabi singer Gippy Grewal’s residence in Canada.
- The April 14, 2024, firing incident at Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s residence, orchestrated by Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother, Anmol.
- The September 2, 2024, shooting at the home of singer AP Dhillon, also claimed by the gang.
Reports indicate that the gang comprises of approximately 700 members, with territories and responsibilities clearly delineated among key figures like Goldie Brar and Anmol Bishnoi, all of whom continue to report directly to Lawrence Bishnoi from prison.
As the investigation into Baba Siddique’s murder unfolds, the repercussions of this violent act may resonate throughout the political, business, and entertainment sectors, further highlighting the pervasive influence of organised crime in the country.
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