US Accuses Lawrence Bishnoi Of Targeting Indian Americans And Canadians

LOS ANGELES, CA – U.S. prosecutors have accused jailed Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi of orchestrating a campaign of violence, intimidation and extortion targeting Indian American and Indian Canadian communities while directing a global criminal enterprise from prison in India.

The allegations are contained in a federal racketeering indictment unsealed July 7 as part of ‘Operation Hard Ball,’ a multinational crackdown targeting three transnational organized crime groups operating across North America, Europe and elsewhere. The U.S. Justice Department said the coordinated investigation resulted in charges against 37 defendants and the arrest of 24 suspects, with assistance from law enforcement agencies in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

A central focus of the U.S. case is the Bishnoi organization’s alleged campaign against members of the Indian diaspora.

Announcing the charges in Los Angeles, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli said the criminal organizations “engaged in widespread violence, including targeted killings, extortions, and kidnappings,” and “preyed in particular on communities in the United States and Canada with ties to India,” threatening victims and their family members in India with physical harm and death.

According to prosecutors, the gang used high profile acts of violence to create fear before exploiting that reputation to extort victims. Members allegedly publicized attacks through online videos, social media posts and media interviews while targeting prominent cultural, political and business figures in India and among the Indian diaspora to maximize publicity and strengthen future extortion efforts.

The indictment cites the June 18, 2023, killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, identified in court documents only as “H.S.N.,” in Surrey, British Columbia. Prosecutors allege Bishnoi and alleged North American leader Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, ordered the assassination.

Court documents also allege the organization claimed responsibility for the shooting outside the Vancouver residence of a prominent Indian actor and singer identified only as “R.G.” before later attempting to extort him. Prosecutors further allege the gang claimed responsibility for the 2022 killing of a prominent Indian singer and rapper identified only as “S.S.S.”

The indictment also alleges Bishnoi publicly declared on multiple occasions between 2022 and 2026 his intention to kill a well known Indian actor and television personality identified only as “S.K.,” using those threats to promote the criminal enterprise and instill fear. Investigators say gang members identified potential extortion targets through government databases, surveillance and social media before contacting victims through encrypted messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, and invoking previous attacks to pressure them into making payments.

Prosecutors allege Bishnoi directed the criminal network from an Indian prison using contraband mobile phones and internet based communications. Despite being arrested by Indian authorities in 2015, he allegedly continued to oversee murders, extortion, kidnappings, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and other crimes across several countries.

According to the indictment, Bishnoi transformed what began as a student network in Punjab into a transnational organized crime syndicate after leaving campus politics in the early 2010s. Prosecutors allege the organization established networks in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia, with thousands of members and associates worldwide, including hundreds in the United States and Canada.

Investigators allege Bishnoi cultivated the public image of a patriot, nationalist and religious figure while using social media and media interviews to recruit followers in India and abroad. Prosecutors say the organization primarily recruited vulnerable young people in Punjab, promising money, notoriety and protection before sending loyal members to countries including the United States and Canada on student and foreign worker visas, sometimes using fraudulent information.

Authorities also allege the organization maintained a decentralized structure that insulated senior leaders from lower ranking members and threatened violence against members or their relatives in India if they cooperated with law enforcement or attempted to leave the group.

The Justice Department said Operation Hard Ball targeted three transnational organized crime groups accused of racketeering, murder, extortion, kidnapping, firearms trafficking, drug trafficking and other offenses as part of a coordinated international effort to dismantle criminal networks operating across multiple countries. (IANS)