Anmol Bishnoi's NIA custody extended by 7 days amid life threat claim

The Special NIA court extended the custody of Anmol Bishnoi, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's brother, by seven days. The hearing was held at NIA HQ due to his life threat claim. The NIA is investigating his alleged role in a terror conspiracy.

NIA Court Extends Custody Amid Security Concerns

The Special NIA court has extended the custody of Anmol Bishnoi for a further seven days. A special NIA judge conducted the hearing in the NIA headquarters. He was deported from the USA. He is the brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

Anmol Bishnoi had moved an application alleging a threat to his life. Thereafter, the court decided to conduct the hearing in the NIA headquarters. Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma went to the NIA headquarters and conducted a hearing there.

Details of the Custody Hearing

NIA's Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Rahul Tyagi moved an application for further custody of Anmol Bishnoi for 10 days. It was submitted that further custody was required to investigate the case. Advocate Rajni and Deepak Khatri appeared for Anmol Bishnoi and opposed the extension of the custody remand. After hearing, the special NIA judge extended the custody for a further 7 days.

A special NIA court at New Delhi on November 19 granted 11 days' custody of Anmol Bishnoi to NIA.

NIA's Allegations and Investigation Scope

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleged that the accused hatched a conspiracy with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and its operatives, for raising funds, recruitment of youth for carrying out terrorist acts in the Union Territory of Delhi and other parts of the country. "The same needs to be unearthed."

While granting 11 days' custody, the court said, " Investigation with respect to the role of the accused qua the aspects highlighted in the application has to be unearthed. Investigation with regard to aspects like Role of accused in alleged conspiracy, incriminating evidence against him, modus operandi used by him for committing crime in question, source of fund used by him for execution of terror conspiracy and details of social media accounts through which responsibility of terror activities executed by Lawrence Bishnoi gang needs to be unearthed."

The NIA alleged that the members of the crime syndicate hatched a conspiracy with BKI and its operatives for raising funds, recruitment of youth for carrying out terrorist acts in the Union Territory of Delhi and other parts of the country.

Besides that, the said syndicate is involved in executing and planning to execute spectacular heinous crime, including but not limited to targeted killings of prominent persons with an intention to strike terror in the minds of people of the country, in furtherance of cause and objectives of BKI, which is a terrorist organization, included in the Schedule of the UA(P)A.

Legal Arguments Presented in Court

Prosecution's Case for Remand

Besides, the NIA also referred to the fact that apart from the main chargesheet, NIA has filed four supplementary charge sheets. "The accused is involved in activities." It was also submitted that the accused was declared a proclaimed offender on 17.01.2025 pursuant to the order of the court. Subsequently, he was arrested today at 02:30 pm, from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, the NIA said.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested the brother and close aide of dreaded gangster Lawrence Bishnoi on his deportation from the US to India. SPP for NIA had submitted that the investigation is pending in relation to the accused. Further, the accused has absconded from India, and the NIA has taken legal recourse for declaring him a proclaimed offender. Therefore conduct of the accused coupled with the stage of investigation, warrants that police custody must be granted in this case, Tyagi argued.

Defense's Rebuttal

On the other hand, advocate Rajni, Deepak Nanda appeared for Anmol Bishnoi. They had opposed the custody application on various grounds. Counsel for the accused had submitted that the application must be dismissed.

Advocate Rajni stated that evidence with respect to the accused is already in possession of NIA, and nothing more is required for which police custody has to be given. It was also submitted that there is no fact, within the knowledge of the accused, which warrants his police custody. Besides that, this case is not based on any direct evidence.

She had further submitted that the accused is ready to cooperate with the investigation and has roots in society. Therefore application may be dismissed. In the alternative, she submitted that in case this court grants police custody to NIA, then the mandate of D.K. Basu v State of West Bengal must be complied with.

Anmol Bishnoi's Alleged Criminal Activities

Role in Terror Syndicate and Extortion

It is stated by the NIA that Absconding since 2022, US-based Anmol Bishnoi is the 19th accused to be arrested for his involvement in the terror-syndicate led by his jailed brother, Lawrence Bishnoi.

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 the 2020-2023 period.

It is alleged that 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.

Links to Major Crimes

It was stated that Anmol's name surfaced in the investigation of the Siddu Moosewala murder case, the MLA Siddiqui murder case of Mumbai, and the firing at Salman Khan's residence in Mumbai. (ANI)

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