Mumbai: Investigations into the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique and the firing targeting actor Tiger Shroff have shown a common recruitment strategy allegedly used by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang — exploiting young men from rural backgrounds with promises of handsome money and a lucrative future abroad.
“Four of the 18 accused initially arrested were promised Rs 25 lakh, a car, a flat and a trip to Dubai. Gautam allegedly contacted Anmol Bishnoi, brother of Lawrence Bishnoi, through Snapchat and Instagram and was promised Rs 10 lakh to assassinate Siddiqui. He was reportedly paid Rs 37,000 to collect two concealed weapons and travel to Mumbai with an associate.
Police alleged that Gautam reconnected with Kashyap, a fellow villager and scrap dealer, who introduced him to gang operatives through Lonkar.
Several young men were drawn into crime, and their lives and those of their families have been ruined,” a senior crime branch official said. He was allegedly promised a future in the United States after completing the assignment. The accused were reportedly supposed to take shelter in Nepal afterwards.
Ansari allegedly received a VoIP call from gangster Anil Pandit around three months before the incident.