When Crime Spans Continents: The Return of Anmol Bishnoi

The deportation of Anmol Bishnoi from the United States to India is a significant, but troubling, milestone in the battle against transnational organized crime. Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, arrives on Indian soil bearing a weight of allegations: his involvement in the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, links to the assassination of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, and even the firing outside Bollywood star Salman Khan’s residence.

The US’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement took Bishnoi into custody for his fake passport, and that he was lodged in Pottawattamie County jail , Iowa.

This development underscores the growing sophistication and global reach of criminal syndicates that thrive by weaving webs across borders, exploiting weak spots in immigration and law enforcement systems. That Bishnoi was living in the United States, allegedly under a forged identity, is not merely a failure of local policing; it is a reminder that crime today is not constrained by geography.

From one perspective, this is a diplomatic and law-enforcement victory for India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Mumbai police have long pursued Anmol. His removal marks the culmination of a painstaking process his asylum bid rejected, his linkages exposed, and finally, his physical return.

But the deportation also raises deeper questions.

First, how many other operatives like Bishnoi are currently embedded in foreign countries, operating under the radar? The fact that he managed to evade detection for so long suggests the existence of networks that help fugitives navigate immigration systems, possibly laundering identity documents, routing themselves through third countries, and establishing safe havens far from the reach of Indian authorities. His case should prompt not only law-enforcement introspection but also diplomatic coordination: countries need to cooperate more deliberately on extradition, intelligence-sharing, and tracking financial flows that sustain criminal enterprises.

Second, his return is not just about bringing one man to justice. It is a potential treasure trove of intelligence about the Bishnoi gang’s international operations. According to investigators, Bishnoi was more than a gunman he was a major operational handler, coordinating extortion, issuing orders via encrypted channels, building international links.

His deportation could unlock insight not only into past crimes, but also ongoing rackets. Indian agencies must seize this opportunity to dismantle the network systematically not just prosecute Bishnoi as an isolated actor.

Third, there is the issue of political optics and public confidence. For the family of Baba Siddique, this is a moment of vindication, but also of unresolved pain. Zeeshan Siddique, Siddique’s son, has already demanded that Anmol be flown to Mumbai and interrogated thoroughly.

Justice delayed is justice denied, but so is justice superficial. The authorities must move with transparency, ensuring that the legal process is robust, credible, and seen to be so.

Fourth, this case is a warning shot. The globalization of crime is not just a law-enforcement problem; it’s a challenge to governance, social cohesion, and international norms. It demands more than punitive action; it demands prevention. That means strengthening cross-border legal infrastructure, but also addressing the social roots of gangsterism, inequality, disenfranchisement, local patronage systems.

Finally, there is a moral dimension: what does it say about our world when crime pays especially when violent crime is coordinated from halfway around the world? Bishnoi’s deportation should not simply be treated as a win in a long criminal case. Rather, it must become a catalyst for building a more integrated, globally accountable system of justice.

Anmol Bishnoi’s return may close one chapter, but if handled wisely, it could open many more—ones that unravel the networks that permit such syndicates to operate across continents. And in doing so, India and its global partners might just show that crime, no matter how far-flung, cannot outrun the long arm of law.