After the October 18 attack on actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai, the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang has also sparked fear among businessmen in Delhi. The criminal syndicate has been actively involved in extortion calls and even firing incidents targeting several entrepreneurs across the Delhi-NCR region. Their influence now extends beyond Mumbai into the capital city.
Lawrence Syndicate Establishes Stronghold in Delhi
The gang’s leader, Lawrence Bishnoi, was transferred from Jodhpur to Tihar Jail in 2021. While incarcerated, he orchestrated alliances with northern Indian gangs, building a formidable criminal network in Delhi. Police officials report that Bishnoi himself made extortion calls from prison, demanding protection money and collaborating with gang members operating outside.
Significantly, from Tihar Jail, Lawrence was involved in plotting the murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took stringent action in August 2022 by registering charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against the entire criminal syndicate. Nevertheless, Lawrence’s operations continued unabated. Even in May 2023, from Sabarmati Jail, he allegedly demanded crores from Delhi-NCR businessmen ahead of a police remand.
Investigations and Notable Incidents
The Delhi Special Cell and Crime Branch have filed multiple cases based on complaints from businessmen. One victim claimed that Lawrence and his foreign associate Goldy Brar instructed negotiations through the syndicate’s lawyer, Deepak Khatri, to settle financial disputes. The Special Cell sought voice samples of Lawrence for evidence, but investigations were hindered when the central government barred his transfer from Sabarmati Jail in August 2023.
The gang’s involvement extends to high-profile murders. Nadir Shah, a gym businessman advocating on behalf of a businessman from Dubai who owed Rs 2.5 crore, is believed to have facilitated police intimidation of Lawrence. Subsequently, Lawrence conspired from jail along with gangsters Hashim Baba and Randeep Malik to orchestrate Nadir’s murder in September 2024. Similarly, the killing of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui on October 12, 2024, is linked to the gang.
Police investigations revealed that several shooters acted on directives from Anil Pandit, maintaining contact via encrypted messaging apps like Signal and Jangi. Among the shooters, Pravesh and Himanshu, with bounties on their heads, were neutralized in a July encounter in Bahadurgarh. Following this, law enforcement intensified the crackdown on criminal networks led by Pandit, Harry, and Randeep Malik, issuing look-out circulars and rewards of Rs 10 lakh each in Haryana.
The Lawrence syndicate operates under the guidance of Randeep Malik, Harry Boxer, Tyson Bishnoi, and Anil Pandit from abroad. The gang’s terror extends to Delhi, with names linked to the June 11 gym trainer murder in Hansi and a firing incident at singer Guru Randhawa’s gym in West Vihar. These associates are also wanted for extortion in areas such as Mandawali, West Vihar, Baba Haridas Nagar, and Vikas Puri. They have further been implicated in extortion cases involving businessmen in Rohini.
The growing menace of the Lawrence gang in Delhi highlights a concerning escalation in organized crime targeting legitimate businessmen and public figures. Authorities continue efforts to dismantle this syndicate amid ongoing investigations and security measures aimed at curbing their influence in the national capital region.
