Lawrence Bishnoi, whose real name is Balkaran Brar, has been a prominent figure in the criminal world, despite spending over ten years in prison. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) revealed in a 128-page chargesheet filed in March 2023 that his criminal empire continues to grow. This document details his transformation from student politics to one of India’s most feared gangsters and is part of an ongoing case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against Bishnoi and 15 of his associates.
Horse Auction Incident
In 2021, when a Delhi Police team tracked down murder suspect Mohammad Shahrukh, a Bishnoi associate, they uncovered a surprising connection. Shahrukh attended a horse auction in Punjab’s Sangrur district, where bids soared—Rs 95 lakh from a local baba and Rs 90 lakh from a representative of actor Salman Khan. After the baba won, Shahrukh allegedly extorted Rs 1 crore from him. This incident highlighted the Bishnoi gang’s ongoing obsession with Salman Khan, stemming from the actor’s involvement in a 1998 blackbuck poaching case. The gang has continued to threaten Khan, with alarming incidents such as gunfire outside his home in November 2023 and the murder of his close friend, NCP leader Baba Siddique, in October.
Bishnoi’s Criminal Expansion
Over the past two years, Bishnoi’s involvement in several high-profile crimes has attracted national attention, including the assassination of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in 2022. Allegations from Canada suggest that the Indian government collaborates with his gang to instigate terror on Canadian soil—claims that India denies. Even while incarcerated since 2014, Bishnoi has managed to maintain an extensive network. The NIA chargesheet compares his rise to that of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim, noting that he reportedly commands a gang of 700 operatives, 300 of whom are from his home state of Punjab.
Balkaran Brar’s Transformation
Bishnoi adopted the name “Lawrence” during his school years, reportedly at the suggestion of his paternal aunt. His affluent family, which owns 110 acres in Punjab’s Fazilka district, never anticipated his path toward notoriety. His cousin, Ramesh, expressed disbelief, saying, “Our family has always been wealthy. His father was a constable in the Haryana Police, and Bishnoi always wore expensive clothes. His family still spends Rs 35-40 lakh annually on him in jail.”
Bishnoi’s criminal journey commenced in 2008, when he was arrested for shooting at a rival during student elections at Panjab University (PU). His police dossier reveals that 18 of the 84 cases against him originated during his college years, where he was deeply entangled in the violent politics of the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU). His connections with notorious figures like Sampat Nehra and Goldy Brar facilitated his further descent into crime.
A Decade of Incarceration
Despite being behind bars, Bishnoi has retained control over his gang through key associates like Goldy Brar, who have taken over operations in his absence. His ambitions remain steadfast, as he stated in 2023, “I have been in jail for the last 10 years, and it’s very unlikely that I will come out now. I want to become the Number 1 criminal in the country.”