‘Lawrence Bishnoi’s family spends 40 lakh/yr on him in jail’: Cousin

Over the last two years, Lawrence Bishnoi’s name has emerged in connection with several high-profile crimes, including the murder of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala on June 6, 2022. Additionally, Canada has recently alleged that “agents” of the Indian government collaborated with Bishnoi’s gang to incite terror on Canadian soil, a claim that India has denied.

Despite these allegations, Bishnoi has been incarcerated since 2014 after a police shootout during his journey to Rajasthan’s Salasar Balaji Temple. He is currently imprisoned in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Central Jail.

Born as Balkaran Brar, Bishnoi adopted the name “Lawrence” during his school years, reportedly suggested by his paternal aunt, who felt that “Lawrence sounded better.”

In Fazilka district’s Dotaranwali village, Bishnoi’s ancestral home, his cousin Ramesh Bishnoi, 50, expressed disbelief over the gangster’s trajectory, stating that the family never envisioned such a future for him. “Our family has always been wealthy. Lawrence’s father was a constable with the Haryana Police and owns 110 acres in the village. Bishnoi always wore expensive clothes and shoes. In fact, even now, his family spends Rs 35-40 lakh annually on him in jail,” Ramesh said, recalling the last time he saw Lawrence a decade ago during a court hearing in Abohar.

Lawrence Bishnoi has gained attention again recently due to the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique. A Facebook post by a gang member, which quickly gained traction, claimed responsibility for targeting Siddique due to his close association with Bollywood actor Salman Khan and alleged links to underworld figures such as Dawood Ibrahim.