SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Diya TV) — Federal authorities have arrested Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of a notorious Indian gangster, in a major international blow against organized crime and a high-profile reminder of the global reach of criminal networks.
Anmol Bishnoi, who is also reported to have several Indian criminal cases pending, is being held at the Pottawattamie County Jail in Iowa according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Diya TV has confirmed.
His brother, Lawrence Bishnoi is a major Indian organized crime figure who is currently serving in an Indian prison. He has been involved in several high-profile crimes including extortion, smuggling, and targeted killings. The Indian police have accused Anmol Bishnoi of being responsible for the international operations of the gang: financial investments and organizational issues.
Indian media reports indicate Anmol Bishnoi had already escaped to another country this year to avoid being caught. His name was on the list of those under investigation related to a Punjabi singer’s murder, Sidhu Moosewala, but no specific charges have been filed against him in the United States.
The arrest is part of strengthened cooperation between Indian and U.S. law enforcement agencies in combating transnational crime. Indian officials reportedly have begun talking with their counterparts in the United States to bring Bishnoi back, extraditing him for trial.
According to a senior official in India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the arrest “signifies an important step in the disruption of criminal syndicates whose operations take advantage of international borders to sidestep law enforcement.”
Criminal analysts believe the arrest is a major blow to the operations of the Bishnoi gang and a message to other global criminal networks. “This proves that regardless of your operation’s location, law enforcement cooperation is closing the loopholes that criminals have exploited for so long,” said Amar Singh, a security analyst based in New Delhi.
As discussions over extradition proceed, Anmol Bishnoi’s arrest is expected to impact ongoing investigations in India. Authorities are hopeful that his detention will lead to further breakthroughs in dismantling the gang’s network.
