Lawrence Bishnoi, an accused in the Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala’s murder case, is currently lodged in Bathinda jail.
On March 13, ABP News broadcasted an interview with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently imprisoned in Bathinda.
The Punjab Police have denied that the interview was shot inside the prison, as claimed by the channel. It is unknown when the interview was taped.
Lawrence Bishnoi speaks about SMW
Lawrence Bishnoi spoke extensively about the Sidhu Mossewala murder case and other cases in which he was allegedly involved in a 57-minute interview.
When asked how he was able to contact the channel from inside the prison, Bishnoi stated that he used loopholes in the prison system to gain access to mobile phones.
Bishnoi claimed that he was imprisoned for his involvement in university scuffles but has never had the opportunity to choose the right path since.
He stated that if given the chance, he would choose nonviolence and build a Gaushala.
During the interview, Bishnoi said he was not involved in planning to kill Sidhu Moosewala. His associates Goldy Brar and Sachin hatched the plan.
He accepted that a couple of weeks before the murder, he had an argument with Goldy, and the revenge for the murder of their associates was pending, but he was not aware of the plan to kill Moosewala.
“I did not have access to a phone at that time. I only learned about the murder after being taken into custody for the same,” he said.
He further claimed Sidhu Moosewala was not a saint as he is being projected by the media nowadays.
He said, “Tell me one instance when Sidhu Moosewala spoke against gangsters, drug problems, Pakistan, or Khalistan. He was no saint.”
He further claimed that Moosewala had good relations with former Punjab CM Channi and others. “He used his contacts to create problems for my associates,” Bishnoi said.
Bishnoi said a lot of people who have been named in Moosewala’s murder case have nothing to do with it.
“Everyone is in jail over suspicion. If the accused drank water at someone’s place at some point, he got arrested. No one is being questioned. Everyone is being thrown directly in jail.”
He said though he knows he has done wrong and is being punished for it, he is not anti-national. “I am against Khalistan, Pakistan, and anything anti-national. I love my country. If given a chance, I will do something for India.”
When asked about the intentions of Moosewala for his alleged involvement in Mithu Khera’s murder, Bishnoi said, “He might want to become a gangster himself. He might want to live his songs in real life.” Bishnoi added that after the murder of one of his associated Gurlal, he asked Goldy, who was his junior in college, to see what could be done to take revenge.
Speaking about the evidence that Moosewala was involved in the murders of Bishnoi’s associates, he said, “His manager’s involvement was proven in the case. He had brought the shooters with him for reece.”
They were allegedly planning to take revenge on Moosewala for over a year.
When asked about the funding, Bishnoi said the money was collected as protection money from the liquor smugglers who supply illegal liquor to states like Bihar.
Bishnoi stated that while incarcerated, he made numerous contacts. The same goes for his associates, including Goldy and Sachin, who allegedly plotted Moosewala’s murder.
Bishnoi went on to say that they met Imran Khurja in jail, who later arranged weapons, including an AK47 and a grenade, for Moosewala’s murder. Khurja was killed in a fight.
“Did he speak against any gang other than ours?” he asked of Moosewala’s father. He’s just playing politics. I can assure you that he will run in the elections. Because of his personal animosity, many people have been named in the case.”
Bishnoi accused the system of failing to act in the murders of Gurlal and Vicky, claiming that the Punjab Police was influenced by Moosewala and did not act in cases involving his associates’ murders.
‘Salman Khan should apologise to my community’
Speaking about the grudges against Bollywood actor Salman Khan, Bishnoi said Khan never apologized to his community. If he got a chance, he would take revenge for killing the animal in his community’s area, he hinted. The Bishnoi community does not let anyone kill animals or cut green trees in their region.
He said, “There is anger in our community for Salman Khan. He humiliated my community. A case was filed against him, but he did not apologize. If he does not tender an apology, be ready to face the consequences. I will not depend on anyone else.” He added, “There has been anger in my mind for him since childhood. He will break his ego sooner or later. He should come to our deity’s temple and apologize. If our community forgives, then I will not say anything.”
Police deny interview from jail
In an official statement, a Police spokesperson said, “It has come to notice that a private TV news channel has aired an interview of prisoner Lawrence Bishnoi purportedly from inside a jail. Rumors are that the interview was recorded from inside Bathinda Jail. This is to clarify that the rumors are baseless and that this video is not from either Bathinda Jail, where the prisoner is currently confined, or from any other jail in Punjab. It is further clarified that this prisoner is at present confined in the high-security zone of Bathinda Jail, where strict surveillance is kept over his activities 24×7. If anyone is caught spreading fake news tarnishing the image of Punjab Prisons administration, action as per law shall be initiated”.
Punjab Anti-Gangsters Task Force (AGTF) Assistant Inspector General Sandeep Goel also denied it was recorded in Punjab jail. He said, “This is not from Bathinda jail or any Punjab jail or Punjab Police custody. Bathinda jail, where he is lodged, is a high-security dead phone zone”.
Watch the full interview:
