In a major breakthrough, Anmol Bishnoi, the alleged key conspirator in the high-profile murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique, is being brought to India after the United States completed his deportation process. Official sources confirmed on Tuesday that Bishnoi is expected to land in Delhi shortly, marking a significant step in the extensive investigation.
The Deportation Process Concludes
The formal procedure to deport Anmol Bishnoi from the United States to India has been successfully finalized, a senior official revealed. With this development, Indian authorities are poised to take him into custody upon his arrival. The central government will now determine which agency gets his initial custody, given that he has numerous serious cases registered against him in different states across the country.
Adding a personal dimension to the official news, Zeeshan Siddique, the son of the slain leader, received direct communication from US authorities. "My e-mail had been registered with the US authorities since I am from the victim's family, and they would update me about any developments in the case," Zeeshan stated. "This morning, I received an email saying that Bishnoi has been removed from the US." While he acknowledged the update, he expressed uncertainty about the specific implications or Bishnoi's immediate destination.
The Bandra Shooting and the Audio Evidence
The case dates back to October 12, 2024, when Baba Siddique was brutally shot dead outside his office in Bandra, Mumbai. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch, which has been leading the probe, has made a total of 26 arrests in connection with the case.
In its detailed chargesheet, the agency explicitly named Anmol Bishnoi as the individual who masterminded the assassination, labeling him a wanted accused. A crucial part of the evidence against him comes from several voice clips recovered from the mobile phones of the arrested suspects. The police assert that these audio recordings matched Bishnoi's voice, wherein he is purportedly heard giving specific instructions and motivating the hit squad to execute the murder.
A Notorious Fugitive and His Gang's Operations
Anmol Bishnoi, 26, is not just a suspect in this single case. His name features prominently in other high-profile crimes, including the murder of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and the firing incident outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan's residence last year. The US authorities detained him in November 2023, after which the intricate process of bringing him back to India was initiated.
Investigating officers believe that with his older brother, the incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, behind bars, Anmol took charge of planning and overseeing the gang's major criminal operations. His notoriety led the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to announce a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to his capture last year. The central agency disclosed that, as of November last year, the fugitive was implicated in 18 criminal cases, with allegations ranging from providing weapons to offering logistical support to the accused in the Sidhu Moosewala killing.
His impending return to India is seen as a critical moment for the multiple law enforcement agencies seeking to question him and bring him to justice for his alleged crimes.
