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Anmol Bishnoi to be deported to India after US rejects asylum plea

Anmol Bishnoi to be deported to India after US rejects asylum plea

A day after a Louisiana court rejected his application for asylum, Indian gangster Anmol Bishnoi is being deported from the United States and is expected to arrive in New Delhi around 10am on Wednesday, according to officials familiar with the matter. Bishnoi, who is wanted in multiple high-profile criminal cases across India, has been identified as the key conspirator in the killing of politician Baba Siddique in October last year. He is the younger brother of incarcerated gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi, whose syndicate has been active across several northern states.

Sources stated that Anmol is being brought back to India on a chartered aircraft along with two fugitives wanted in separate Punjab-related investigations. A senior officer said that once his asylum plea was dismissed on Monday, US authorities initiated deportation procedures and notified Indian agencies of his travel schedule. The officer added that detailed coordination began immediately for securing his arrival.

Indian security officials said arrangements have been made for multiple teams of Delhi Police to be deployed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to assist central agencies. Preliminary discussions indicate that the National Investigation Agency will present Bishnoi before a court to seek custody in connection with ongoing terror and organised crime cases. Investigators are prioritising his alleged involvement in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022, the killing of Baba Siddique in 2024, and a firing incident outside the residence of actor Salman Khan.

Baba Siddique’s son, Zeeshan Siddique, confirmed that he received an email from US authorities informing him that Bishnoi had been “removed” from the country. He said the communication was sent because his contact information was registered as part of the victim’s family details, and such updates were routinely provided. However, he added that he had no clarity on Bishnoi’s exact travel status or location after removal.

Baba Siddique was shot dead outside his Bandra office on October 12, 2024. Following the attack, Mumbai Police arrested 26 individuals and invoked sections of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. Anmol was listed as the mastermind in the chargesheet, and police claimed that audio clips recovered from the accused matched his voice, allegedly giving instructions for the execution of the murder plot.

Indian authorities had sought Bishnoi’s extradition in January last year. In response, the US Department of State had requested additional information in March, specifically asking for detailed proof of his direct role in various crimes and supporting technical evidence. Bishnoi was arrested by US immigration officials in November 2024 for travelling with forged documents but was later released on bail after a period of detention.

Investigators said Anmol fled to the United States in May 2022 using a fake passport issued under the name “Bhanu.” His cover began to unravel when US immigration authorities flagged discrepancies in reference letters submitted with his travel documents. A Red Corner Notice was issued against him in December 2022, and the NIA announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to his capture.

Officials noted that Bishnoi faces 31 criminal cases, including 22 in Rajasthan alone, and has nine pending arrest warrants. The Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate, which he is believed to have helped manage from abroad, spans Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi, and is suspected of carrying out extortion, targeted killings and coordinated operations using overseas handlers. With his deportation underway, agencies expect a significant breakthrough in investigations linked to the network’s recent activities.

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