Lawrence Bishnoi has become one of India’s most closely watched gangsters, with his alleged criminal network linked to high-profile shootings, extortion cases and threats against celebrities, including Bollywood actor Salman Khan.
A series of violent incidents and investigations has brought renewed attention to Bishnoi and his associates, raising questions about how he rose from student politics to become a prominent figure in India’s criminal underworld.
From Student Politics to the Criminal Underworld
Born in 1993 in Punjab’s Ferozepur district, Lawrence Bishnoi came from a financially well-off family. He moved to Chandigarh in 2010 to pursue higher education and studied at DAV College before becoming involved in student politics at Panjab University.
Bishnoi was associated with the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) and became its president in 2011–12. However, his involvement in campus politics also coincided with criminal cases involving allegations of assault, attempted murder, robbery and trespassing.
Over time, his associations with other individuals involved in crime helped expand his network across Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. His alleged criminal operations later became associated with murder, extortion, intimidation and organised gang activity.
Criminal Cases and Law Enforcement Investigations
Indian law enforcement agencies have investigated Bishnoi and people allegedly associated with his network in connection with multiple criminal cases.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also investigated an alleged terror-gangster conspiracy involving members of the network. In May 2026, the agency reportedly filed a chargesheet against another accused in the case.
Investigators have examined allegations involving criminal operations, fraudulent documents and connections between gangsters and other organised groups. The allegations against individual accused persons remain subject to the legal process.
Why Does Lawrence Bishnoi Have a Feud With Salman Khan?
The long-running feud between Bishnoi and Salman Khan is linked to the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Rajasthan.
During the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain, Khan was accused of hunting protected blackbucks. Members of the Bishnoi community, which regards the animal as sacred, filed a complaint over the alleged incident.
In April 2018, a Jodhpur court convicted Khan in the case and sentenced him to five years in prison. The verdict and sentence subsequently became the subject of legal proceedings.
Bishnoi, who belongs to the same community, has repeatedly been associated with threats against the actor. Individuals linked to his alleged network have demanded an apology from Khan over the blackbuck case.
The dispute has since developed into a major security concern, although the legal proceedings concerning Khan and the criminal allegations against Bishnoi are separate matters.
Shootings and Threats Against High-Profile Figures
In April 2024, two men allegedly opened fire outside Salman Khan’s residence in Mumbai’s Bandra area. The Bishnoi gang subsequently claimed responsibility for the incident, according to media reports.
Later that year, the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique prompted further scrutiny of the network. Mumbai Police linked alleged shooters to the Bishnoi gang, while individual responsibility remains subject to judicial proceedings.
In October 2026, a reported shooting incident involving Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area again drew attention to the gang. Reports said a person identified as Anil Pandit claimed responsibility online and issued a warning to Salman Khan.
Police investigations were launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether the alleged perpetrators had links to the network.
Where Is Lawrence Bishnoi Now?
Bishnoi is being held at Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Despite his incarceration, authorities have continued investigating alleged activities involving people associated with his network.
According to reports, Mumbai Police faced restrictions on taking Bishnoi into custody for questioning in connection with the Tiger Shroff shooting. The matter was reportedly linked to judicial custody restrictions under Section 303 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The NIA and police forces in different states have pursued investigations involving alleged murder, extortion, shootings and connections between criminal networks.
Why the Bishnoi Gang Remains in the Spotlight
The Lawrence Bishnoi case highlights the reach of alleged organised criminal networks and the challenges authorities face when investigating operations spanning multiple states.
The gang’s alleged use of social media threats, claims of responsibility and attacks against prominent figures has kept it under sustained scrutiny.
As investigations continue, authorities must establish who planned and carried out specific attacks and what evidence supports charges against individual suspects.
For now, Lawrence Bishnoi remains a prominent figure in India’s criminal investigations, while his reported feud with Salman Khan continues to attract public attention.
Reporting by Borderless for The Borderless Journal. Filed under Uncategorized · 26 Oct 2026, 11:00.
