Anmol Bishnoi, the fugitive brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, was detained in California on Monday, according to sources. Anmol, who is wanted for multiple high-profile murders in India, was apprehended by US authorities earlier in the day.
Sources from the Mumbai Crime Branch indicated that after initial interrogation, Anmol could be handed over to Canadian authorities in connection with the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Once that process is complete, Indian authorities may seek his custody.
Anmol Bishnoi, who fled India last year, became a key figure in the Bishnoi criminal network following his brother Lawrence's arrest. He is implicated in several serious cases, including the shooting outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan's residence and the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. He is also linked to the killing of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique in October 2023.
The detention comes after the Mumbai Crime Branch initiated the process of extraditing Anmol from the US. He faces multiple charges, including two cases filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and 18 other criminal cases. Recently, the NIA offered a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
Anmol initially fled to Canada in 2023 using a fake passport. A non-bailable warrant for his arrest was issued by a Mumbai court in July. Authorities have confirmed his communication with the shooters involved in the murder of Baba Siddique, and while two suspects have been arrested, one remains at large.
He is also connected to an attack on Salman Khan’s residence earlier in April, during which he allegedly incited attackers with a nine-minute speech encouraging them to "create history." His brother, Lawrence Bishnoi, remains imprisoned in Gujarat on charges related to organized crime and drug trafficking.