Anmol Bishnoi, wanted in connection with the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, was brought back to India from the United States on Wednesday, said sources.
After landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Anmol Bishnoi was formally handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He is wanted across India for his alleged role in major organised crime and extortion networks linked to his elder brother Lawrence Bishnoi.
Investigators say Anmol has acted as a key handler in cross-border operations, coordinating shooters, funding modules, issuing threats from abroad and directing targeted killings through encrypted communication channels. All FIRs against him are currently with the NIA.
Anmol is also an accused in the killing of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, who was shot dead on October 12, 2024, outside his son Zeeshan’s office in Bandra. Several members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang were arrested in the case. He is additionally wanted for the April 2024 firing outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s residence.
Security was tightened at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Wednesday before gangster Anmol Bishnoi was brought from the United States.
Police personnel, accompanied by the Dog Squad, conducted extensive checking of vehicles and premises at Terminal 3, ensuring multiple layers of security ahead of Bishnoi’s arrival.
According to senior intelligence officials, Anmol’s return is the result of new immigration rules introduced under US President Donald Trump. The revised policy mandates the immediate detention of any illegal immigrant after the first rejection of their asylum or immigration petition — unlike the previous Biden-era system that allowed applicants to file fresh petitions and remain free during review, often delaying deportations for years.
Under the new rules, detainees remain in custody, and immigration courts prioritise their cases, reducing deportation timelines from nearly a decade to roughly 18 months. Anmol Bishnoi has been in US detention for about 1.5 years, and officials say his case moved swiftly under this accelerated process. They emphasise that the policy applies to all illegal immigrants, not just Indians.
