Gunfire at Tiger Shroff's Car Brings Lawrence Bishnoi Gang Back Into the Spotlight

Staff Report | PNN

The name of notorious criminal Lawrence Bishnoi has once again come into the spotlight following a shooting incident targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff's car. The incident took place in Mumbai's Juhu area. Although the actor escaped unharmed, two people, including his driver, were reportedly shot.

A message circulating under the name of the Bishnoi gang reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack and issued threats against people associated with Salman Khan. However, the authenticity of the message has not yet been established. No publicly confirmed evidence has established that Lawrence Bishnoi directly ordered the attack. Authorities are therefore investigating the shooting while examining the possible involvement of the criminal network.

On Monday (October 19), police detained three suspects, including a minor, in Kota, Rajasthan. Kota Superintendent of Police Tejaswini Gautam said preliminary questioning had revealed information about alleged links between one suspect, identified as Rehan, and Anil Pandit, a purported associate of Bishnoi.

However, the actual connection between the detained individuals and the shooting must be established through an investigation. The allegations against them have not yet been conclusively proven.

Lawrence Bishnoi was born in Punjab, India, in 1993. He moved to Chandigarh for his studies and enrolled at DAV College. After becoming involved in student politics, he became acquainted with Goldy Brar. Over time, his name became associated with various criminal cases, including attacks, attempted murders and extortion.

Despite being arrested and imprisoned, Bishnoi's associates have allegedly continued operating the criminal network. According to various Indian investigative agencies, he maintained influence over the group's activities by communicating with associates outside prison. However, it cannot be said that all allegations against him have been proven in court.

Lawrence Bishnoi is currently imprisoned at Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Indian media reports have stated that special restrictions apply to his communications and movements outside the prison.

The conflict between Bishnoi and Bollywood actor Salman Khan dates back to the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. During the filming of Hum Saath-Saath Hain in Rajasthan, Salman Khan was accused of killing two blackbucks. The blackbuck holds particular religious and cultural significance for the Bishnoi community.

In 2018, Salman Khan was sentenced to five years in prison in connection with the case. He was subsequently granted bail. Various media outlets reported that Lawrence Bishnoi publicly threatened to kill the actor that same year. Threats against Salman continued in subsequent years.

On April 14, 2024, two men riding a motorcycle opened fire outside Salman's residence, Galaxy Apartments, in Mumbai's Bandra area. The suspects were later arrested. Police investigations raised allegations of the Bishnoi gang's involvement in the attack.

The Bishnoi gang's name attracted widespread attention in the entertainment industry following the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala on May 29, 2022. Goldy Brar, who was reportedly staying abroad, claimed responsibility for the killing. Indian investigative agencies also alleged that associates of Bishnoi were involved in the murder.

The gang's name resurfaced following the killing of Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, in Mumbai on October 12, 2024. Siddique had a close relationship with Salman Khan. Following the murder, a message circulated on social media reportedly threatening people who helped Salman Khan.

In 2025, a message claiming responsibility in the name of the Bishnoi gang also emerged following a shooting at comedian Kapil Sharma's café in Surrey, Canada. Similar claims reportedly circulated after a shooting at filmmaker Rohit Shetty's residence in Juhu in February this year.

However, whether the same criminal network was involved in each of these incidents must be determined on the basis of the relevant investigations.

The criminal network has been accused not only of carrying out attacks but also of spreading fear through social media messages claiming responsibility for violent incidents. According to analysts, such publicity may be intended to intimidate not only the direct targets of attacks but also other individuals and businesspeople associated with them.

Investigations by various international media outlets have examined issues such as communication from prison, the role of associates based abroad and efforts to expand the criminal network's public profile through social media.

Consequently, the shooting targeting Tiger Shroff's car is not simply being viewed as an isolated criminal incident. Who was involved, what motivated the attack and whether the threatening message circulated in the name of the Bishnoi gang is authentic are questions that remain dependent on the outcome of the investigation.