The resurgence of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in Mumbai has sent shockwaves across the city, bringing back memories of an era when the Bombay underworld dominated headlines. For decades, after Mumbai Police’s decisive crackdown on crime syndicates in the aftermath of the 1993 blasts, the streets of India's financial capital were relatively free from large-scale gang wars. Key underworld figures like Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan, and Abu Salem had fled abroad, running their operations from countries like Pakistan and the UAE, leaving behind a vacuum. However, the re-emergence of organized crime through the Lawrence Bishnoi gang signals a disturbing new chapter, as Bishnoi, unlike his predecessors, has managed to run his vast criminal network from within Indian prisons, completely subverting the system meant to restrain him.
Mumbai, a city historically shaped by its underworld figures, had largely seen the end of direct gang violence, with leaders like Dawood relocating their operations. But with Bishnoi at the helm, a new breed of crime has reared its head. This shift from the old Bombay underworld to a modern-day criminal empire, managed remotely from jail, is unprecedented in many ways. While figures like Dawood ran their international networks from safe havens abroad, Bishnoi operates from the very institutions meant to contain him, raising critical questions about the prison system’s ability—or willingness—to prevent such activities.
The rise of Bishnoi’s influence can be traced back to his early days as a student leader. Born in 1993 in Ferozpur, Punjab, Lawrence Bishnoi's criminal career began during his college years in Chandigarh, where he first became involved in student politics. His association with fellow gangster Goldy Brar during their time at Panjab University laid the foundation for a partnership that would evolve into one of the most feared criminal networks in India. By 2012, multiple FIRs had been lodged against Bishnoi for crimes ranging from attempted murder to extortion, marking the beginning of his journey into full-fledged criminality.
As his criminal activities expanded, so did his influence. Over time, Bishnoi's gang established a foothold not only in Punjab but across northern and western India, including Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Delhi. His gang’s reach has been further bolstered by the use of social media, recruiting young men into the fold and maintaining a presence that transcends state borders. The gang’s criminal portfolio has grown to include extortion from high-profile targets such as Bollywood celebrities, businessmen, and even politicians. The NIA, in its investigation, has drawn stark comparisons between Bishnoi's operations and Dawood Ibrahim's D-Company, highlighting the scale and scope of Bishnoi's criminal empire.
Despite being imprisoned for over a decade, Bishnoi’s ability to run his gang from jail, orchestrating killings and spreading fear across multiple states, is astonishing. His gang, which boasts a network of over 700 shooters across five Indian states, continues to operate with ruthless efficiency. The use of advanced communication technologies like VoIP calls and "Dabba Calling" has allowed Bishnoi to evade traditional surveillance methods, giving him free rein to communicate with his aides and plan criminal activities from behind bars. Even more alarming is the apparent lack of accountability from within the prison system, which has allowed him to operate unchallenged.
One of the most high-profile incidents attributed to Bishnoi’s gang was the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala in 2022. Even though Bishnoi was in Tihar Jail at the time, his associate Goldy Brar claimed responsibility for the killing. This incident highlighted the audacity and reach of Bishnoi's gang, sparking nationwide outrage. More recently, on October 12, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the assassination of NCP leader Baba Siddique, a prominent figure in Maharashtra's political landscape. This marked a significant escalation, as Siddique’s links to the Dawood Ibrahim gang further underscored the growing rivalry between old and new underworld factions.
The audacity with which the Lawrence Bishnoi gang operates, even while its leader is incarcerated, has led to the inevitable question of how Bishnoi continues to exercise such power. What is his "suraksha kavach" or protective shield? Many believe that Bishnoi’s enduring influence is due to a combination of factors, including powerful alliances within the criminal world, potential collusion from corrupt officials, and his ability to strategically avoid legal vulnerabilities. His refusal to apply for bail, despite being incarcerated for more than a decade, suggests that Bishnoi sees the prison system not as a hindrance but as a base of operations.Â
Moreover, the National Investigation Agency's findings have pointed to connections between Bishnoi's gang and pro-Khalistan groups, indicating a complex web of alliances that protect and sustain his criminal network. His ability to issue threats, including the infamous threat to Bollywood actor Salman Khan over the Black Buck poaching case, reflects not just his audacity but his belief in his untouchable status. The gang’s stated motive behind the threats and attacks, often rooted in the Bishnoi community’s strong beliefs, further complicates the narrative around his operations.
The resurgence of gang violence in Mumbai, driven by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, poses a significant challenge to law enforcement agencies, both locally and nationally. The comparison between Bishnoi's network and Dawood Ibrahim's D-Company highlights the scale of the threat. However, unlike Dawood, who fled India and continues to operate from abroad, Bishnoi remains entrenched within the country's criminal justice system. This difference raises disturbing questions about the integrity of the institutions meant to contain such individuals and about the deeper, systemic issues that allow criminals like Bishnoi to flourish from behind bars.
As Mumbai grapples with this new wave of organized crime, the question remains: can law enforcement dismantle the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, or will the city once again be held hostage by an underworld figure who seems untouchable, even from within the walls of the prison? The answers may lie not just in the apprehension of his aides or shooters, but in addressing the underlying mechanisms that continue to act as his "suraksha kavach," protecting Bishnoi and his empire from the full force of the law.
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