Anti-hero Bollywood movies centered on a protagonist seeking vengeance has been a tried and tested, successful plot formula.
In recent times, the reel has turned real with jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi reportedly aiming to retribute a poaching case involving famed actor Salman Khan that angered the Bishnoi community in 1998 (see report on page 8).
In the latest development to the story, a senior Delhi Police officer told the Press Trust of India that the Bishnoi gang’s intentions have now expanded beyond seeking revenge against the actor.
“The gang is now trying to penetrate Bollywood, an area once ruled by (underworld don) Dawood Ibrahim (who is now reportedly holed up in Pakistan), and set up its own D-Company (the name of Dawood’s gang),” the officer said.
Also known as Balkaran Barar, Bishnoi, 31, found himself at the centre of a storm recently after Mumbai Police said it was investigating any angle involving him and Salman in the murder of Maharashtra political leader Baba Siddique on Oct 12.
A day after Siddique’s murder, a Facebook post over the matter drew attention. “Whoever helps Salman Khan and the Dawood gang, keep your accounts in order,” it said.
According to Delhi Police, while Bishnoi has never personally killed anyone, he has risen to become one of the most feared gangsters in India, allegedly operating with “impunity” from a Gujarat prison and employing methods reminiscent of Dawood.
His name also cropped up this week when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while levelling conspiracy charges against India’s senior-most diplomats in Ottawa, alleged that they turned to “criminal organisations like the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to (wreak) violence against Canadians on the ground”.
Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which has been investigating the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023, earlier this week also blamed the “Bishnoi group” for carrying out hit jobs at the behest of a spy agency linked to the Indian government.
Bishnoi reportedly entered the criminal world during his time at Panjab University in 2010, when he opened fire at a rival during student body elections, resulting in a three-month jail sentence.
Despite the setback, he went on to win the student union presidency while completing his graduation.
Convicted in four criminal cases in Punjab, Bishnoi faces charges of extortion, murder, attempt to murder and violations of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
He initially operated in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi, before expanding his activities to Maharashtra.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) reported that Bishnoi commands a gang of around 700 members nationwide, including sharpshooters, and collaborates with other gangsters such as Goldy Brar, Sachin Thapan, Anmol Bishnoi, Vikramjit Singh, Kala Jatheri and Kala Rana.
The murder of famous Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala in May 2022 brought Bishnoi’s name to national attention, cementing his position as India’s most feared don. The orders reportedly came from Bishnoi, who was locked up in Delhi’s Tihar Jail at the time.
Bishnoi is now in Sabarmati jail in Gujarat booked for 12 different cases, reported India Today.
What makes Bishnoi’s story even more chilling is his growing focus on Bollywood.
Following Moose Wala’s murder, one of Bishnoi’s shooters, Saurabh, alias Mahakal, revealed to police that Bishnoi is intent on extending his criminal empire into Mumbai’s entertainment industry.
His goal: To establish fear and dominance in Bollywood.
