Mumbai cops move proposal for Anmol Bishnoi's extradition after US alert

Mumbai Police have forwarded a proposal for the extradition of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's younger brother Anmol Bishnoi, who has been named as an accused in some high-profile crimes, including the Baba Siddique murder case, a senior police official said.

The proposal was sent after US authorities informed Mumbai Police about Anmol Bishnoi's presence in their country, the official said on 2 November, Saturday.

Last month, Mumbai Police's crime branch moved the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court in Mumbai, stating that it intends to "initiate the extradition procedure of fugitive criminal Anmol Bishnoi", and filed an affidavit "for further necessary action", which was allowed by the special court.

Both Lawrence and Anmol Bishnoi have been named as wanted accused in the 14 April firing incident outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan's apartment in Mumbai's Bandra area.

Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal had carried out the firing, and were arrested along with Sonukumar Bishnoi, Mohammed Rafiq Choudhary and Harpal Singh, all of them currently in judicial custody. One more accused, Anujkumar Thapan, reportedly died by suicide in police custody.

In the chargesheet filed in the case, police have shown Lawrence Bishnoi and Anmol Bishnoi as wanted accused.

NCP leader and former MLA Baba Siddique was shot dead by three gunmen near the office of his son and MLA Zeeshan Siddique on 12 October. The police have so far arrested 15 persons in connection with the murder. The role of the Bishnoi brothers, who hail from Fazilka in Punjab, is suspected in the case.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Anmol Bishnoi. Lawrence Bishnoi is currently lodged in a jail in Sabarmati, Gujarat.

A lookout circular was issued in April against Anmol Bishnoi, who had claimed responsibility for the firing incident outside Salman Khan's residence.

An FIR was also registered by the NIA against nine accused, including both the Bishnoi brothers, in August 2022 for being part of a conspiracy to "raise funds, recruit youth to carry out terrorist acts in the Union Territory of Delhi and other parts of the country" besides "targeted killings of prominent persons".