Delhi Court extends NIA custody of gangster Anmol Bishnoi amid high security probe

A Delhi court on Saturday extended the National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody of deported gangster Anmol Bishnoi by seven more days, deepening the ongoing probe into a sprawling terror-crime syndicate linked to multiple high-profile attacks across India.

Special Judge Prashant Sharma granted the custodial extension till December 5 after a hearing held at the NIA headquarters under heavy security arrangements, reflecting the sensitivity and scale of the investigation.

Anmol, younger brother and key aide of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, is wanted in several major criminal cases, including the murder of NCP leader Mohammad Siddique, the April 2024 firing outside actor Salman Khan’s Mumbai residence, and his alleged role in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022. Investigators allege that he played a significant role in coordinating operations for the Bishnoi syndicate from abroad, especially after going absconding in 2022.

He was detained in the United States in November last year and was “removed” or deported to India on November 18, following which he was arrested upon landing. On November 19, he was remanded to 11 days of NIA custody, which has now been extended to enable further interrogation into the financial, logistical, and international networks of the organised crime group.

The NIA has described Anmol as an important node in the terror-gangster nexus it has been investigating since 2022 a network accused of funding terror activities through extortion, targeted killings, and cross-border criminal alliances. He is the 19th accused to be arrested in the multi-state crackdown.

The case has parallels with earlier action taken by the NIA against other foreign-based gangsters such as Goldy Brar, Lakhbir Singh Landa, and associates of the Bambiha gang, where investigative patterns showed overseas coordination of crimes, procurement of weapons from Pakistan-based handlers, and the use of encrypted communication channels.

With Anmol now in custody in India after nearly two years on the run, officials believe they will be able to piece together more details of the international financing networks and alleged terror linkages that have kept several criminal syndicates active despite their leaders being lodged in high-security prisons.