US Plans To Seek Bishnoi’s Extradition From India

WASHINGTON, DC-The United States plans to seek the extradition of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from India to face federal racketeering charges, with investigators saying the move is aimed at preventing him from continuing to run a global criminal network from behind bars.

The announcement came after US authorities unsealed an indictment charging Bishnoi, along with his alleged lieutenant Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, with directing a transnational criminal enterprise accused of murder, extortion, kidnappings and large-scale drug trafficking across North America and beyond.

Speaking after the indictments were announced, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Lisa Moreland said US authorities intend to pursue Bishnoi’s extradition from India.

“So what I think is the charges that were brought forward today, obviously under the RICO laws in the United States, it brings through that, as stated today, that they will bring him forward for extradition, to get him moved forward and to face charges in the United States,” Moreland told CBC News.

The comments came in response to questions about allegations that Bishnoi has continued directing criminal operations despite being lodged in an Indian prison.

According to the US indictment, Bishnoi allegedly used contraband mobile phones and voice-over-internet communication devices smuggled into jail to direct political assassinations, murders, extortion, kidnappings, drug trafficking and human smuggling carried out by members of the Lawrence Bishnoi Organized Crime Group across several countries.

She added that removing both Bishnoi and his senior leadership would have “a direct impact on public safety here in Canada and abroad.” (IANS)