Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was the “mastermind” behind the killing of Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, alias Sidhu Moose Wala, Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) HS Dhaliwal said on Wednesday.
“The Delhi Police Special Cell has been working on the Moose Wala case. Attempts are being made to arrest the accused persons as soon as possible.
“The case is registered in Punjab, but our effort has been to ensure the killers are arrested. Identification of killers is the first step.
“The special cell has been working against organised crime and gangs,” Dhaliwal said.
In a joint operation, the Delhi Special Cell police team and Maharashtra Police arrested Siddhesh Hiraman Kamle alias Mahakal, a close associate of the main shooter in the killing of Moose Wala. Following his arrest, Mahakal spilled the beans of Bishnoi’s involvement in masterminding the killing of Moose Wala.
Dhaliwal said Mahakal was arrested from Pune and five more suspects have been identified in connection with the murder. Sources said Mahakal may reveal the name of two of the shooters involved in the killing of the Punjabi singer.
Sources said Bishnoi, who is in the Delhi Police’s custody, had planned the killing of Moose Wala while he was in prison. It is suspected that Bishnoi was in touch with the killers.
“On his orders the shooting was carried out and earlier also on Bishnoi directions the recce of singer house was conducted by his gang members,” said the sources.
“Bishnoi has alleged that Moose Wala was involved in the killing of Akali Dal youth leader Vikramjit Singh alias Vicky Middukhera on August 7 last year which led to a rivalry between him and the Punjabi singer,” said the sources.
“Bishnoi has been very uncooperative so far. But during interrogation, he accepted that he had a rivalry with Moose Wala and claimed that his gang members killed the singer,” said sources.
“He has revealed that Goldy Brar was one of the gang members who conspired and executed the killing of Moose Wala, but he has not yet disclosed the names of other associates who were the real conspirators and executioners of the killing,” a police official said.
Bishnoi, who is facing nearly 60 cases, was lodged in Central Jail number eight of Tihar.