New Delhi: Gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, once known to run a joint criminal network, have reportedly gone their separate ways, NDTV reported quoting sources. This growing rift, which had been building for some time, is expected to complicate efforts by law enforcement and intelligence agencies to crack down on their illegal operations.
According to information gathered from the questioning of their associates, the split was triggered after Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother, Anmol Bishnoi, was arrested in California in November 2023 for illegally entering the United States. Anmol, wanted for several crimes including the killing of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, is currently facing extradition. He is out on bail but has been ordered to wear a GPS tracker. Bishnoi was reportedly upset that Goldy Brar and his new ally, Rohit Godara, did not assist Anmol in securing bail.
Gang alliances shift abroad
Following this, Bishnoi cut ties with Brar and aligned himself with Noni Rana, also known as Surya Pratap, a gangster operating from Canada. Rana is the younger brother of Haryana-based gangster Kala Rana. Bishnoi and Rana have since worked together on extortion operations, with Rana’s network collecting money on Bishnoi’s behalf.
Meanwhile, Brar, who fled to the US in 2017 and has never returned, now operates his gang from there and has joined hands with Rohit Godara, who is based in Azerbaijan. The two are suspected of being involved in several violent crimes.
Security agencies on alert
The fallout between Bishnoi and Brar has drawn attention from security agencies across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi. These state police forces have held meetings with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to assess the threat posed by the split.
Both gangs are linked to several major crimes, including the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Brar later admitted to the killing in a BBC interview. The gangs have also been linked to threats against actor Salman Khan, including a shooting incident outside his Mumbai home in April 2024. Khan was unharmed in the attack.
