Sidhu Moose Wala Murder Case: Lawrence Bishnoi Admitted To Being Mastermind Behind Killing, Says Punjab Police

Punjab Additional Director General of Police said the sharp shooters had reached the village of Moose Wala in Mansa district on May 25, four days before the singer's murder.

New Delhi: Punjab Additional Director General of Police (Anti Gangster Task Force) Pramod Ban told a press conference on Thursday that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has admitted that he was the mastermind of the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala and was plotting the murder since August last year. Ban said that another accused Baldev alias Nikku has been arrested on Thursday.

"We had recently arrested Lawrence Bishnoi in the case and his remand was extended till June 27. He has admitted that he was the mastermind (in Moose Wala's killing)," Ban told reporters here.

"The plan to carry out the killing was being hatched since August last year. According to our information, recce was done thrice. In January too, a different group of shooters had come to kill Moosewala but could not do so," the ADGP said.

"We have arrested 13 people so far and the entire conspiracy has been unravelled," Ban said, adding that Lawrence has also admitted to using a mobile phone in Tihar Jail.

Inquired as to whether the weapons recovered from the captured shooters for the situation by the Delhi Police were used in Moose Wala's killing, he said they are waiting for the forensic analysis.

"We will have to get those weapons forensic checked to see whether those were used in this case, that is part of the investigation." Ban said Lawrence had made fake passports for his brothers Anmol Bishnoi and Sachin Thapan to execute the conspiracy and then sent them abroad before the murder. According to Ban, these passports made with fake details were issued by the Regional Passport Office, Delhi.

Anmol Bishnoi (brother of Lawrence Bishnoi) has a criminal history with 18 criminal cases registered against him. In addition, he was lodged in Jodhpur Jail, from where he was released on bail on October 7, 2021. While Sachin Thapan, a close aide of Lawrence Bishnoi, has 12 criminal cases registered against him. Both Anmol Bishnoi and Sachin Thapan had obtained passports on the basis of fake details.

Ban said the sharpshooters had reached the village of Moose Wala in Mansa district on May 25, four days before the singer's murder. Also, before the murder, the recce was done at least thrice. Ban said that "we are getting forensics done to know what weapons were used to kill Sidhu Musewala."

"As far as the arrest of the other accused goes, eight to nine teams of the Anti-Gangster Task Force are at the job. We are also in touch with other states and are hopeful of nabbing them soon," the ADGP said.

Additional Director General of Police said that on the basis of disclosures made by Lawrence Bishnoi during interrogation, separate cases were filed against Lawrence and his associates under sections 384, 465, 466, 471, 120B of IPC, Section 12 of Passport Act and Section 25 of Arms Act. A case has been registered from Along with this, the role of the passport issuing officers on fake details will also be probed.

Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moose Wala, was shot dead on 29 May in the Mansa district of Punjab. A day before this, the Punjab government had cut the security cover of the singer and 423 people.

(With PTI inputs)