The notorious jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s family reportedly spends between Rs 35 lakh and Rs 40 lakh each year to ensure his well-being in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail. Bishnoi, who is implicated by Canadian authorities for allegedly running a criminal network that targets Khalistani extremists, hails from a wealthy family in Punjab.
Ramesh Bishnoi, Lawrence’s cousin, revealed that the last time he met him was a decade ago, during a court hearing. Lawrence, born as Balkaran Brar, adopted his current name on the suggestion of his paternal aunt, who thought “Lawrence” sounded better. The name stuck, and Balkaran soon became Lawrence Bishnoi.
According to Ramesh, Bishnoi’s family owns 110 acres of land in Punjab, and his father, Lavinder Bishnoi, was a constable in the Haryana Police. Lawrence had a penchant for expensive clothes and shoes, it is reported.
Ramesh added that the family never imagined he would become involved in criminal activities. “People who know his parents speak of their deep disappointment,” he said, highlighting the anguish his parents feel over their son’s illegal actions. A senior police official who visited the family home described Lavinder as a man sitting in silence, while Lawrence’s mother, Sunita, frequently crying.
Lawrence’s descent into crime began while he was a law student in Punjab. During a college union election, he and his friend, Sampat Nehra, formed a group to back Robin Brar, their chosen candidate. A brawl with a rival group led Lawrence to open fire on a competing student, marking the start of his criminal career. He was later sent to Burail Jail, where he crossed paths with arms smuggler Ranjit Duplan and gangster Rocky Fazilka, experiences that further hardened his criminal mindset. Lawrence went on to establish a gang involved in extortion and kidnapping, and his notoriety soared after being implicated in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.
Lawrence Bishnoi is lodged at the Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad; he is being probed by the state’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in multiple cases.
NIA has revealed that Bishnoi’s gang comprises around 700 members, with 300 based in Punjab. His network reportedly spans internationally, with operations in Canada, the UK, the USA, Europe, the Middle East, Thailand, Dubai, the Philippines, Pakistan, Germany and Italy.
In August 2023, the Union home ministry issued an order to prevent Bishnoi from being taken out of that prison regardless of the purpose. In August, the order was extended by another year.
