The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted raids at multiple locations in Haryana and Rajasthan in connection with a money laundering investigation against the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, reported PTI citing officials. News agency ANI posted visuals stating that raids are being conducted at nearly a dozen locations as part of the probe being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). PTI reported that ED's action stems from FIRs and charge sheets filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Haryana Police some other state police against Bishnoi and his close aide Satwinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar.
The gangster is currently in jail as he is one of the accused in the murder case of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. ED is investigating the charges against Bishnoi and other gang members who were allegedly sending funds generated in India through extortion and smuggling of drugs and arms to Canada and other countries that were being used by pro-Khalistan supporters.
Bishnoi has been in jail since 2014 after he was arrested during an encounter with the Rajasthan Police. He was later moved to Delhi's Tihar jail in 2021.
On June 14, 2022, he was arrested by the Punjab Police and shifted to the state for his alleged connection with the sensational murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala on May 29.
"Investigations have revealed that a terrorist, gangster and drug smugglers syndicate led by Bishnoi was involved in many targeted killings and extortion from businessmen and professionals, including doctors, and this had created a widespread scare and terror among the public at large," the NIA had said.
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