The Mumbai Police may seek to question jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in connection with the firing at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car, reportedly claimed by the Bishnoi gang. However, interrogating Bishnoi or securing his custody will involve specific legal procedures and approvals, as a Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order restricts his removal from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Central Jail, where he has been lodged since 2023.
With two suspects arrested and a minor detained in Rajasthan’s Kota and the investigation now being handled by the Mumbai Crime Branch, the possibility of questioning Bishnoi could become an important aspect of the probe.
Investigators will need to establish the alleged involvement of the gang and determine whether questioning its jailed leader could help uncover the larger conspiracy behind the attack.
WHAT ARE LEGAL HURDLES?
Bishnoi is lodged in a high-security zone inside Sabarmati Jail and, according to police sources, is kept isolated from other inmates. He is not permitted to meet anyone except his lawyers and legal team for legal consultations.
An order issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in August 2023 under Section 268 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) restricts his removal from the prison without the Centre’s approval. The order is extended annually for a period of one year.
Section 268 of the CrPC empowers the government to prohibit the removal of a prisoner from a particular prison. In Bishnoi’s case, the restriction means that police forces from other states cannot simply take him into custody for interrogation without the necessary clearances.
For ongoing court proceedings, Bishnoi is produced through video conferencing. His physical movement outside the prison is subject to the restrictions imposed under the MHA order.
QUESTIONING LIKELY INSIDE PRISON?
The restrictions do not necessarily prevent investigators from questioning Bishnoi inside the prison.
According to the procedure outlined by police sources, a police force seeking to interrogate him must first obtain authorisation from the relevant NIA court.
The questioning would then have to take place within Sabarmati Jail, subject to the applicable permissions.
If the Mumbai Police believe that Bishnoi’s interrogation could help establish the circumstances surrounding the firing at Shroff’s car, they may seek the required court approval and coordinate with the relevant authorities.
Securing his custody, however, is a separate matter. The Mumbai Police would need the necessary judicial authorisation and clearance from the Union Home Ministry to take him out of Sabarmati Jail.
Without the Centre’s approval, his transfer to another state’s police custody would not be permitted under the existing restrictions.
The Rajasthan Police has previously interrogated Bishnoi. However, according to the information available, no other state police force has travelled to Ahmedabad for this purpose.
During the investigation into the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, speculation had also emerged that the Mumbai Police might seek Bishnoi’s custody, but this did not materialise.
THE TIGER SHROFF FIRING CASE
The firing took place on Sunday evening in Mumbai’s Juhu area when Shroff, 36, was leaving after playing a football match.
The assailants allegedly fired multiple rounds at his BMW sedan. The actor escaped unhurt, while his driver, Firdaus, and an autorickshaw driver, identified as Chauhan, sustained injuries.
Mumbai Police registered an attempt-to-murder case, initially at Juhu Police Station, before transferring it to the Crime Branch.
Two men have been arrested and a juvenile detained in Kota, Rajasthan, in connection with the shooting.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The Mumbai Police are yet to establish publicly whether they will seek permission to question Bishnoi.
Their next steps will depend on the evidence gathered from the arrested suspects, forensic findings and the alleged gang’s role in the attack.
If investigators consider Bishnoi’s interrogation necessary, they will have to follow the prescribed judicial process and comply with the MHA restrictions.
Whether the questioning takes place inside Sabarmati Jail or the police pursue custody will depend on the permissions secured and the requirements of the ongoing investigation.
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