Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi will continue to remain inside Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Central Jail under strict restrictions, following the renewal of an order by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Under this order, police from other states cannot take him out of the prison for questioning or court appearances while the restrictions remain in force.
The decision has once again brought attention to Bishnoi, whose gang has been linked to several high-profile criminal cases. Most recently, the gang reportedly claimed responsibility for a firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff, bringing the question of police access to Bishnoi back into focus.
According to media reports, any agency seeking to question him must follow the required legal process, while court proceedings can be conducted through video conferencing where permitted.
More than three years inside Sabarmati Jail
Bishnoi was brought to Sabarmati Central Jail on May 10, 2023, after the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested him in connection with a drug seizure case.
The case involved 38.994 kg of heroin worth approximately ₹194.97 crore, seized off the Kutch coast in September 2022. Bishnoi was brought from Delhi’s Tihar Jail to Gujarat for investigation and was transferred to Sabarmati Jail after his police remand ended.
Since then, he has remained in the high-security prison. The restrictions imposed by the Home Ministry have prevented authorities from moving him to another prison or taking him into physical custody for questioning in other cases.
Why can’t other state police take his custody?
The restrictions began in August 2023, when the Home Ministry issued an order under Section 268 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The provision allowed the government to prevent certain prisoners from being removed from the prison where they were being held.
When the original order expired in August 2024, the government renewed the restrictions under Section 303 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced the CrPC.
The order was renewed again in August 2025 and, according to recent reports, in August 2026. This has kept Bishnoi inside Sabarmati Jail despite requests from investigating agencies to question him in other cases.
In simple terms, the restriction prevents police from taking Bishnoi out of the prison, even if they need to question him in a case registered in another state. Investigators may seek permission to question him inside the jail, but obtaining physical custody is a separate matter.
Mumbai Police also faced difficulties
The restrictions became particularly significant after the murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique in Mumbai on October 12, 2024.
Mumbai Police sought access to Bishnoi during the investigation but could not take him into physical custody because of the Home Ministry’s order.
The same restrictions could complicate investigations into other incidents in which the Bishnoi gang is suspected of involvement. Police can seek to question him through the permitted legal process, but they cannot simply transfer him out of Sabarmati Jail while the order remains in force.
NIA takes over the larger case
In August 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the investigation into the alleged criminal network associated with Bishnoi.
In October that year, the agency filed a supplementary chargesheet before a special court in Ahmedabad. The case involved provisions of several laws, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Information Technology Act.
The Home Ministry’s restriction has remained in place while investigations and legal proceedings involving Bishnoi and his alleged network continue.
What happens next?
The latest renewal means that Bishnoi will remain inside Sabarmati Central Jail under the existing restrictions for the period covered by the order.
If another state’s police force needs to question him, it must follow the applicable legal procedure and obtain the necessary permissions. Video conferencing can be used for court appearances where allowed, while questioning must take place within the limits set by the authorities and the court.
The restrictions are intended to prevent his removal from prison. They do not, by themselves, stop investigations into cases in which he is named or suspected of involvement.
As fresh cases linked to the alleged Bishnoi gang continue to draw attention, the restrictions have created a practical challenge for investigating agencies seeking direct access to the jailed gangster.
