Who is Lawrence Bishnoi? The jailed gangster linked to threats against Bollywood

This explainer distinguishes between charges and allegations made by investigating agencies, claims made on social media, and findings of courts. Lawrence Bishnoi has denied the allegations against him. Inclusion of an allegation here does not mean it has been proved.

Few names have appeared in Indian crime news as often in recent years as Lawrence Bishnoi’s. Although he has been in custody for more than a decade, investigators in India and abroad allege that a criminal network associated with him has carried out extortion, threats and shootings — including against people from the film industry. This article explains who he is and what is known.

Background

Lawrence Bishnoi was born Balkaran Brar on 12 February 1993 in Fazilka district, Punjab, into a family belonging to the Bishnoi community. He studied at DAV College in Chandigarh and later studied law at Panjab University, where he became involved in student politics.

Between 2010 and 2012, several criminal cases were registered against him in Chandigarh; according to published records, he was acquitted in some and others remained pending. He has been in custody since 2014 and has been held in several jails, including Tihar Jail in Delhi. Since August 2023 he has been held in Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat.

Allegations in India

Indian investigating agencies have named Bishnoi as an accused in a number of serious cases. They include:

• The killing of singer Sidhu Moose Wala (May 2022) — an associate, Goldy Brar, claimed responsibility, and Punjab Police named Bishnoi among the accused.
• A National Investigation Agency case (2023) — the NIA filed a chargesheet under anti-terror law alleging links between his network and other criminal groups.
• The firing outside Salman Khan’s home (April 2024) — Mumbai Police named him and his brother Anmol Bishnoi among the accused in its chargesheet.
• The killing of politician Baba Siddique (October 2024) — the gang claimed responsibility on social media; police investigated the claim.

These are allegations and charges. Trials in these cases were ongoing at the time of writing.

International action

• Canada (September 2025) — the Canadian government listed the “Bishnoi Gang” as a terrorist entity, citing extortion and violence targeting South Asian communities.
• United States (July 2026) — an indictment unsealed in Los Angeles alleged that Bishnoi and his associate Goldy Brar ordered the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, directing it from an Indian prison using smuggled phones. US authorities said they would seek his extradition.

How is a jailed man linked to crimes outside?

Investigators in several cases allege that associates abroad and inside India coordinate using encrypted apps, recruit young people with promises of money or fame, and post claims of responsibility on social media to spread fear. Police caution that such claims are sometimes made by people seeking publicity and must be verified independently.

The gang and the community

It is important to separate the gang from the Bishnoi community, a religious community from Rajasthan and Punjab known for its centuries-old commitment to protecting trees and wildlife. The community is famous for the Khejarli sacrifice of 1730, when villagers led by Amrita Devi gave their lives to protect trees. Most Bishnois have no connection to crime, and community leaders have distanced themselves from gang violence.

The Salman Khan connection

The gang’s public hostility towards Salman Khan is linked to the 1998 blackbuck poaching case, because the blackbuck is held sacred by the Bishnoi community. Threats made in Bishnoi’s name have repeatedly demanded that the actor apologise. For more, see our timeline of threats to the film industry.

What remains to be decided

None of the major cases described above had reached a final verdict at the time of writing. Courts in India — and possibly abroad — will decide whether the allegations are proved.