Anmol Bishnoi Asks Mumbai Court to Let Him Surrender in Salman Khan Firing Case
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Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has filed a plea in a Mumbai court asking to be allowed to surrender in a case linked to a shooting outside Bollywood star Salman Khan's residence. The firing took place in April 2024 outside Khan's home in Bandra, Mumbai, and is being probed by Mumbai police.
Anmol is not new to legal trouble. He was deported from the United States last November and immediately arrested by India's National Investigation Agency in a separate matter. He is currently lodged in Tihar Jail in Delhi. Because he is already in custody in that other case, he cannot simply walk into the Mumbai court to surrender in the Salman Khan firing case without the court first issuing an order for his transfer.
In his petition, Anmol explained that his physical appearance before the special court is necessary so that his surrender can be officially recorded and so that remand proceedings, whether in person or through video link, can move forward. He argued that this step would not harm the prosecution's case and would instead speed up the trial while preventing any misuse of legal process.
The plea also revealed an important detail about the case's progress: the trial has already started, and three witnesses have been questioned in court without Anmol being present. His lawyers say that formally bringing him into the proceedings now will help the case move forward properly.
To understand the case itself, it helps to look back at what happened. On the morning of April 14, 2024, two men riding a motorcycle opened fire outside Khan's Bandra residence. Police later identified them as Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal. Several other people have since been arrested and are in judicial custody, including Sonukumar Bishnoi, Mohammad Rafiq Choudhari and Harpal Singh. One accused, Anujkumar Thapan, died by suicide while in police custody, adding to the case's troubling history.
Lawrence Bishnoi, who runs a criminal network from behind bars and has been linked to several high-profile crimes, is also named as a wanted accused in this firing case. Anmol's request to surrender adds another chapter to the ongoing investigation, which has drawn wide public attention because of Khan's fame and the serious security concerns it raised for him and his family.
What happens next depends on the special court's decision. If it grants Anmol's request, authorities will issue a formal order allowing his transfer or virtual appearance from Tihar Jail so that he can be produced before the Mumbai court and the surrender can be legally recorded.
Why it matters
This case sits at the intersection of celebrity security, organised crime, and how India's justice system handles high-profile gangland cases. Anmol Bishnoi's move to surrender, rather than avoid trial, is unusual and could speed up a case that has stalled with him absent while witnesses are already being examined. It also highlights how gangs linked to Lawrence Bishnoi have been targeting public figures, prompting greater scrutiny of celebrity security and organised crime networks operating across state and even international borders, given Anmol's earlier attempt to evade arrest by fleeing abroad before being deported.
Test yourself
1. Who has filed a plea to surrender in the Salman Khan firing case?
2. Where is Anmol Bishnoi currently lodged?
3. Which agency arrested Anmol Bishnoi after his deportation?
4. When did the firing outside Salman Khan's residence take place?
5. Who were identified as the bike-borne shooters in the case?
6. What happened to accused Anujkumar Thapan?
7. What is Anmol Bishnoi requesting from the special court?
8. How many witnesses have already been examined in the case without Anmol's presence?
9. Which law is associated with the special court hearing this case?
10. What relationship does Anmol Bishnoi have with Lawrence Bishnoi?
Your notes
Source: The Hindu