The Mohali District Court on Tuesday granted a 20-day extension to the investigating officer to file a charge sheet in the case involving the alleged use of fake passports to send gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother, Anmol Bishnoi, and other gang members abroad.
Sub-Inspector Amandeep Singh, the investigating officer, informed the court that the charge sheet is awaiting approval from the relevant authority and requested additional time, with the next hearing now scheduled for November 19.
The case dates back to a police investigation on June 20, 2022, when Punjab State Crime Police filed charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Passport Act against Lawrence Bishnoi and ten others, including gang members Karamveer Singh alias Karnveer, Satwinder Singh alias Goldy, Satveer Wading alias Sam, and Anmol Bishnoi. The charges alleged that Lawrence Bishnoi, while imprisoned, coordinated his brother Anmol’s escape abroad using a fake passport, with assistance from associates in the USA and Canada, as well as illegal travel agents operating in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan.
Bishnoi reportedly provided substantial sums to arrange fake passports for Anmol and others in his gang, allowing them to evade arrest by fleeing overseas. The police claim that the fake passports were issued under false names and addresses but used the real photographs of Bishnoi’s relatives and associates. The intention, according to police, was to help them avoid capture related to serious criminal charges.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Lawrence Bishnoi and associates Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, Buta Khan, and Deepak Tinu appeared via video conferencing, as directed by the court. These gang members had previously failed to appear, leading the court to issue production warrants requiring their virtual attendance on November 5.