Sidhu Moosewala Murder: Punjab Court Frames Charges against Lawrence Bishnoi

A court in Punjab’s Mansa district has framed charges against incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and 26 other individuals in connection to the Sidhu Moosewala murder case. Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, known as Sidhu Moosewala, a singer, was fatally shot in Mansa district on May 29, 2022. The primary suspect in this high-profile case, Canada-based gangster Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar, remains at large, and charges against him have not been framed yet.

“District Sessions Judge H S Grewal has levied charges against the 27 accused in the Moosewala murder case,” stated Satinder Pal Singh Mittal, representing Moosewala’s family. Additionally, the court rejected discharge applications from Lawrence Bishoni, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, Jagtar Singh, and Charanjit Singh Chetan, the legal counsel mentioned.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for May 20. In response to this development, Balkaur Singh, Moosewala’s father, expressed a sense of relief, marking the first time in the last 24 months that the family has felt any semblance of it.

Charges

The accused face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offense), 212 (harboring offender), and 120 B (criminal conspiracy), alongside other relevant sections of the Arms Act.

Moosewala was killed while traveling in a jeep to Jawahar Ke village in Mansa with his friend and cousin. Their vehicle was intercepted, and Moosewala was shot by six assailants.

Goldy Brar

Following the murder, Goldy Brar, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the act. As per the police’s charge sheet, Brar orchestrated Moosewala’s murder as a retaliation for the killing of ‘Vicky Middukhera’, a Youth Akali leader, in 2021.

Brar was labeled a terrorist by the government under the anti-terror law UAPA in January this year. He collaborated with Lawrence Bishnoi, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, Sachin Bhiwani, Anmol Bishnoi, Sachin Thapan, Monu Dagar, Pawan Bishnoi, and the gunmen to devise and execute the plan to eliminate Moosewala, as outlined in the charge sheet.

Bishnoi, purportedly running his gang from Tihar jail, was apprehended by Punjab police in connection with the murder case.

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