The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended its restriction order against notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi for the third consecutive year, keeping him confined within Ahmedabad's high-security Sabarmati Central Jail. The latest order, renewed in August this year, continues the stringent measures limiting Bishnoi's movement and court appearances.
Continued Confinement Under BNSS
A senior prison official, speaking anonymously to The Indian Express, confirmed that the MHA renewed the restriction order against Lawrence Bishnoi under BNSS section 303. This marks the third year of such restrictions, initially implemented under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and subsequently under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) after the new criminal laws took effect in July 2024.
The restriction order effectively means that Lawrence Bishnoi cannot be moved out of the Gujarat prison until the order remains in force. Even investigation agencies and state police departments seeking to question him must do so within the confines of Sabarmati Central Jail, with court appearances conducted exclusively through video-conferencing.
Bishnoi's Extended Jail Stay
Lawrence Bishnoi has been lodged at Sabarmati Central Jail since May 10, 2023, accumulating over two-and-a-half years of confinement at this facility. As of November 10, 2025, he has spent two years and seven months in the Ahmedabad prison.
His journey to Sabarmati Jail began when the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested him in April 2023 in connection with the seizure of 38.994 kg heroin worth Rs 194.97 crore off the Jakhau Coast of Kutch on September 14, 2022. After completing 14 days of police remand granted by a Kutch court, Bishnoi was formally transferred to Sabarmati Central Jail on May 10, 2023.
Family Developments and Legal Context
The restriction order renewal comes amid significant developments involving Bishnoi's family. His brother, Anmol Bishnoi, was extradited from the United States and reached India recently, where the National Investigation Agency (NIA) promptly placed him under arrest.
Anmol, who fled India in 2022, represents the 19th accused arrested by the NIA for alleged involvement in the terror syndicate led by Lawrence Bishnoi. Additionally, the Maharashtra Police seeks him for conspiracy in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique on October 12, 2024.
The legal framework governing Bishnoi's restrictions has evolved over the three-year period. The initial order in August 2023 was issued under section 268 of the Criminal Procedural Code (CrPC), which expired in August 2024. Subsequently, the MHA issued a new order under section 303 of the BNSS, valid until August 2025, with the latest extension continuing this pattern of strict confinement.
Lawrence Bishnoi faces allegations of heading a vast criminal network spanning multiple countries, with approximately two dozen cases registered against him across various jurisdictions. His continued restriction underscores the government's approach to handling high-profile gangsters considered significant threats to national security.
