Sachin Bishnoi, Accused In Sidhu Moosewala Murder Case, Extradited To India From Azerbaijan

Sachin Bishnoi, who is the nephew of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has been on the run since the murder of Sidhu Moosewala in May last year and had fled the country using a forged passport.

New Delhi: Sachin Bishnoi alias Sachin Thapan, the prime accused in Sidhu Moosewala murder case, was on Tuesday extradited to India from Baku, Azerbaijan by Delhi Police Special Cell. The development comes after a team of security agencies was sent to Azerbaijan to apprehend gangster Sachin Bishnoi. Notably, Sachin Bishnoi, who is the nephew of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has been on the run since the murder of Sidhu Moosewala in May last year and had fled the country using a forged passport.

Delhi Police Special Cell Commisioner HGS Dhaliwal told ANI that the police will hold a detailed press conference later today. According to reports, Bishnoi who hails from Punjab’s Fazilka was detained in Azerbaijan in August last year.

#WATCH | Vikramjeet Singh alias Vikram Brar, a key aide of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, brought to Delhi's Patiala House court in connection with his involvement in the sensational killing of famous Punjabi Singer Shubhdeep Singh alias Sidhu Moosewal. pic.twitter.com/teBNBuKu6V

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2023

The Delhi Police Special Cell, comprising about four officers, including an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and two Inspectors from the Counter Intelligence Unit, were tasked with securing Sachin Bishnoi’s extradition to India.

Accused in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case Sachin Bishnoi alias Sachin Thapan extradited to India from Baku, Azerbaijan by Delhi Police Special Cell. pic.twitter.com/bWOu24Q9PH

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2023

How Sidhu Moosewala Was Killed

The murder of Sidhu Moosewala took place on May 29, 2022. Less than 24 hours after the government curtailed his security, the 29-year-old singer was shot dead by gangsters near his ancestral village in Punjab’s Mansa in broad daylight on Sunday. He was driving a SUV when the assailants, believed to be 10-12 in number, fired more than 20 rounds at point-blank range, resulting in grievous injuries to Moosewala and his two friends, who received seven to eight bullets.

The singer was shot at point-blank range and declared dead on arrival at the Mansa civil hospital. The assailants fired over 30 rounds at Moosewala, who was found slumped in the driver’s seat by locals.

The investigation suggested gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was the mastermind of the daylight killing. His close aide Goldy Brar, who is said to be based in Canada, was also under investigation in this case. Police issued a Red Corner Notice against Brar through Interpol.

The incident occurred two days after Punjab Police withdrew the security cover of 424 persons, including that Moosewala.

Moosewala had fought an election from Mansa in the last Assembly election on a Congress ticket but was defeated by AAP’s Vijay Singla. On November 23, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Bishnoi in a case related to the alleged conspiracy to recruit youth to carry out terror strikes in Delhi and other parts of the country.

Sachin Bishnoi’s Involvement Under Scanner

Sachin Bishnoi’s involvement in the Siddhu Moose Wala murder case was under the scanner since the incident was reported. His extradition to India was anticipated to lead to several crucial revelations in the murder case.

Sachin Bishnoi had earlier moved a plea before a higher appellate authority in Azerbaijan to avoid his extradition to  India after he was detained there in August last year. However, his appeal was rejected in July this year.

Who is Sachin Bishnoi?

Sachin Bishnoi is one of the gangsters who allegedly made the planning for the murder of Sidhu Moosewala. Reportds suggest that he had openly confessed that he shot and killed the Punjab singer “with his own hands” as an act of revenge.

Moreover, he had claimed that the murder was a revenge for the killing of “his brother Vicky Middukhera”, who was a close friend of Lawrence.

Earlier, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had extradited gangster Vikramjeet Singh alias Vikram Brar, a key aide to Lawrence Bishnoi, from the UAE. Vikram Brar is an accused in multiple cases linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang including the targeted killing of Moosewala.

Apart from this, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has been brought to Delhi from a Gujarat jail and lodged in the national capital’s Mandoli prison. He has refused his involvement in Moosewala’s killing.