Bishnoi Gang associates held for firing outside gym linked to Guru Randhawa

The Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested two alleged associates of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang for allegedly opening fire outside a gym linked to Punjabi singer Guru Randhawa in Delhi’s Paschim Vihar earlier this month. One of the accused had returned from Russia less than two weeks before the incident, police said on Wednesday.

The accused, identified as Arman (19) and Tushar alias Tashu alias Pinku (21), both residents of Haryana’s Sonipat district, were arrested from Bahadurgarh following a manhunt. Investigators alleged that the duo worked as shooters for gangster Anil Pandit, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang who is believed to be operating from the United States.

According to police, two motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire outside a gym located on Outer Ring Road in Paschim Vihar at around 4 am on June 11 before fleeing the spot. No injuries were reported in the incident, though seven empty cartridges were recovered from the scene.

A case was registered at the Paschim Vihar East police station. The firing attracted widespread attention after a social media post allegedly made by Anil Pandit went viral, claiming responsibility for the attack on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

Police said the post suggested the gym was targeted because of its alleged association with Randhawa and referred to the singer’s purported proximity to Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who the Bishnoi gang has repeatedly threatened in the past.

Given the suspected organised crime angle, the investigation was transferred to the Crime Branch. Officers reconstructed the escape route of the shooters, analysed technical evidence and tracked their movements across nearly 100 kilometres.

The probe led investigators to four suspects, Sahil, Sagar, Arman and Tushar. Acting on specific inputs, police conducted raids in Bahadurgarh on June 15 and arrested Arman and Tushar. During interrogation, both allegedly confessed to their role in the firing, police said.

Investigators said Arman is a cousin of the two absconding suspects, Sahil and Sagar. Tushar had recently returned from Russia, where he had been working after travelling on a study visa. Police alleged that shortly after his return, he came in contact with Sahil and Sagar and became part of the conspiracy.

Both accused have been remanded to police custody. Police said efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects, identify other members of the network and recover the firearm used in the attack.