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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your primetime destination news.
00:05Newsmakers, talking points, our big talking point tonight.
00:07Who ordered the attack on Tiger Shrop?
00:11Decoding Lawrence Bishnoi's empire of crime.
00:15How is a gangster in jail getting away time and again?
00:22What does it say about law and order in this country?
00:26And why is France still in flames?
00:30We'll have special guests on all those issues.
00:32But first, as always, it's time for the Nine Headlines at 9.
00:37All the attackers involved in targeting actor Tiger Shrop arrested from a train in Kota, Rajasthan.
00:46All of them, according to the police, were reportedly planning to flee to Nepal.
00:50Police say they are probing the real motive behind the attack.
00:56Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis insists no tolerance for gangster crimes.
01:01As Deputy Chief Minister Shinde also meets Tiger Shrop.
01:05Opposition flags worsening law and order in Mumbai under the NDA government.
01:13A court extends the judicial custody of Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das of the Khokrut Janata Party by two more
01:20days.
01:20The CGP alleges a bid to silence them by the centre.
01:28Amid raging politics over the stampede in Kolkata, Bengal police clarifies that all people linked to the Chorobhagan Puja panel
01:37will be probed.
01:38Opposition questions why is the BJP MLA, who was chairman of the panel, not being yet questioned by the police.
01:48Storm intensifies over the drug menace in Punjab.
01:51Akali Dal urges centre to launch a CBI probe into the killing of an anti-drug activist.
01:56Home Minister Shah to meet the drug victim's family tomorrow.
02:02Delimitation politics heats up further.
02:05Union Minister responds to Congress's demand for an all-party meeting on delimitation.
02:10Kiran Rajuju says multiple requests to Rahul Gandhi Khargepur talks on the legislation have gone unheard.
02:19Ahead of India visit, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claims trade deal with India was the reason behind
02:25Donald Trump putting Russian oil tariffs on hold.
02:28Rubio to meet External Affairs Minister Jai Shankar in Mumbai tomorrow.
02:35As protests and violence spread in France, U.S. President Donald Trump tells France to close its borders as migrants
02:41have taken over the country.
02:45And Ramesh Pawar is named the new national selector from the West Zone, replacing Ajit Agarkar.
02:51Kragyan Oja stays on as the chairman of the selectors because he has played more tests.
03:10But the latest that's coming in on the Tiger Shroff attack in Mumbai, the Mumbai police have got custody of
03:19the attackers who targeted the Bollywood star.
03:23Mumbai police have left from Kota where the accused were picked up.
03:28The Kota police will also participate in the interrogation.
03:32The police claim all accused in the case are adults and not a minor as earlier was being suggested.
03:38The police claim the motive behind the attack is still being probed.
03:42Joining me now is Divesh Singh.
03:44Divesh, it all seems at the moment very, very strange that the attackers are caught within a few hours, the
03:51so-called sharpshooters.
03:53Was this really an attempt to target Tiger Shroff or was it only to spread fear in the Bollywood film
04:00industry?
04:01What are your police sources telling you that suddenly within 12 hours the police seem to have miraculously arrested everyone?
04:17Well, the motive is yet to be known because just a while ago the accused, the three accused were produced
04:24in a Kota court and their transit remand was sought.
04:27What we have spoken to the Mumbai police officials, they are saying that we are yet to interrogate and question
04:33the accused and only then we will come to know what has been the motive.
04:38But sources from Mumbai police are telling us that the shooters were promised that they will be given jobs in
04:44a foreign country.
04:45A certain amount, a certain sum was also promised for the act of carrying out the shooting on Tiger Shroff
04:53and they were provided with weapons.
04:55The weapons are yet to be recovered but it is suspected that one of such weapons is a Zegana pistol
05:01which is an imported pistol and one is a country made pistol.
05:05And the video clearly shows that one of the pistols used by the second shooter got jammed and that malfunctioned
05:13while he was carrying out the shooting while the other shooter sprayed some bullets on Tiger Shroff's car.
05:19His driver was injured.
05:22Tiger Shroff also suffered minor injuries due to the shattered glass and another person was injured in the firing at
05:30the spot.
05:30Also, it has been told that some money was given for purchase of a bike and this bike was the
05:37crucial lead which helped police reach or identify the shooters or one of the accused.
05:43And further details were analysed with the help of human intelligence and surveillance, CCTV cameras and video footage that was
05:50recovered from the spot from the eyewitnesses as well.
05:53So, these accused are going to be interrogated to question what was told to them, why Tiger Shroff has to
06:01be targeted but it has been the modus operandi of Laurence Bishnoy gang and the henchmen working for the gang
06:08like Anil Pandit and Harman Sandu whose name has come forward and they have made some social media statements which
06:14again as per Mumbai police needs verification.
06:17But they claim that they were, because the actor is close to Salman Khan and we had warned that don't
06:23work with Salman Khan but again they are dragging the name of Salman Khan and trying to instill fear amongst
06:29Bollywood celebrities and it could be because they want to collect or target Bollywood celebs for extortion.
06:37Okay, Dewey Singh with those details, thanks very much.
06:40Okay, remember of course all of this started with multiple shots that were fired at actor Tiger Shroff's car last
06:46night.
06:46After the Laurence Bishnoy gang claimed responsibility for the attack, all the three accused involved in the attack were arrested
06:52today in Kota.
06:53Two are from Haryana, one from Bihar and police confirming there are no miners among them.
06:59Investigators are now probing the exact role of the handlers.
07:02Take a look at this report.
07:14Multiple shots fired at Tiger Shroff's BMW, luckily the actor escaped unhurt.
07:25Three shooter fled the spot and Bishnoyi gang took responsibility for the crime.
07:57Bishnoyi gang took responsibility for the crime.
07:59We don't have 700 shooters. We have 70,000 shooters.
08:34They boarded a super fast train and planned to reach Jaipur, but were nabbed by Rajasthan police in Kota while
08:41they were en route Jaipur. The attackers had planned to escape to Nepal from Delhi.
08:59We had to find out. Since our gap was behind, we were in the chase. We had information to the
09:06Kota police.
09:08On the basis of the Kota police, the Kota police took care of them.
09:13After that, we took care of them and took care of the Kota police in Mumbai.
09:19We started to attack the Kota police.
09:29The Kota police took care of the Kota police.
09:31They took care of the Kota police and took care of them.
09:49The attackers were nabbed within 16 hours. Forensic teams are now examining Tiger Shroff's BMW at Santa Cruz police station
09:58after the firing incident.
10:00With no weapons recovered till now, the investigators are analyzing mobile phones and data to trace the missing arms, logistical
10:08support and possible links.
10:12The police station is where the entire car was cordoned off. A team of forensics was called in and right
10:18now you can see that the entire team is right here.
10:22They are taking measurements of just about everything and of course any chemical analysis.
10:28And if there are any, you know, because when a bullet passes by, there are residues that are left.
10:33So all that for chemical analysis, everything is being sent to ensure that there is a watertight case that is
10:41built.
10:43The ballistic report revealed that shots were fired from 7.62 mm pistols.
10:50Five shells and two live rounds ejected during a pistol malfunction were also recovered from the spot.
10:57Experts believe that one of the weapons could be a Turkish made Zingana pistol.
11:03Mumbai crime branch has taken custody of the shooters in Kota to grill them on the plot.
11:10With Vidya and Divyesh Singh in Mumbai, Bureau Report, India Today.
11:19And joining me now is Zeeshan Siddiqui, NCP leader and someone whose father, remember, was assassinated by Lawrence Bishnoe's gang
11:29shooters.
11:30Zeeshan, give us your belief, where do you stand on this?
11:35The fact is, here is a gangster in jail in Sabarmathi and his sharpshooters are carrying out these operations.
11:43Your father was assassinated, Tiger Shrop attacked.
11:46How do you, how, do you believe all these stories that are being put out that this is Bishnoe's gang
11:53that is doing all of this?
11:55Or is this in some way, you know, who is really, do you believe that it is Lawrence Bishnoe sitting
12:01in Sabarmathi jail who is doing all this?
12:04Firstly, I'd like to not, you know, connect these two incidences because there have been reports that my father was
12:12assassinated by the Bishnoe brothers or Anwar Bishnoe per se.
12:15But the mastermind behind my father's murder has not been caught or even been interrogated yet.
12:21So that's a different angle.
12:22But if you talk about the law and order of the city, of the state, it's very ridiculous to say
12:27the least that in a place like Mumbai, which is the city of dreams,
12:30in 2026, we're actually talking about shootings on politicians, on actors.
12:37And I think it's just us going back at the dark era 25 years ago where, you know, all of
12:43this used to be a common thing.
12:45I saw the video myself of these two boys shooting at Tiger's car.
12:50And if something like this happens in Mumbai in places like Bandra or Juhu, it's an intelligence failure and the
12:57government and the Mumbai police needs to give the answers to the common man.
13:01You know, but you said Anmol Bishnoe was behind your father's attack.
13:05But the mastermind is still missing.
13:08Of course.
13:08Can you explain that to us?
13:09I mean, many believe that Lawrence Bishnoe sitting in Sabarmathi jail is directing these sharpshooters.
13:15You're saying the mastermind is someone outside?
13:18In my father's case, me and my family made it very particular and made it very clear to the police
13:24that we do suspect the Builder lobby.
13:27If they're saying that the Bishnoe gang was used, it could have been used at someone's behest.
13:32But ever since my father's assassination, I've gotten threats every day.
13:36In fact, in the last two months, I've gotten four threats that they'll kill me like my father.
13:41But my security hasn't been enhanced by even one percentage, even though, you know, I'm a legislator.
13:47I'm a sitting legislator in the government.
13:49It's very unfortunate that I'm a part of the government.
13:52I am a legislator, a public representative.
13:54But even though I get four threats in two months, my security hasn't been increased.
13:58So how am I supposed to go and face the common man, look into his eye and tell him that
14:03you're safe,
14:03when your own representative doesn't feel safe.
14:06So it's very unfortunate and Mumbai is going worse by the day.
14:11And this Mumbai spirit is obviously high.
14:13But if the Mumbai police cannot tackle such things, then somebody has to give answers.
14:18So when you've asked the police for security, what have they said?
14:22I've not gotten any answer.
14:23I've met the Chief Minister.
14:25I've met the Commissioner of Mumbai Police.
14:26The recordings have been all over media.
14:29I've written all letters to every possible person, to the Home Department, to the government.
14:34But I haven't got… I mean, being a legislator myself, I haven't gotten answers.
14:39So I pity the common man right now.
14:41But you know, your family, I think your mother wanted that
14:44Laurence Bishnoi and Anmol Bishnoi be interrogated.
14:48That the Mumbai police be given access to them.
14:50Even that access has been denied.
14:51It almost seems as if Laurence Bishnoi is being protected by someone.
14:55I mean, the Mumbai police, I keep asking them, why have you not got access?
14:59They say, Home Ministry won't allow us access.
15:01I mean, how do you…
15:02The very fact that the person who is supposedly behind your father's death,
15:06in terms of killing him, and the Mumbai police has no access to him.
15:10In fact, my family was in touch with the US government
15:14to try and get Anmol Bishnoi to India.
15:16And we were successful in doing that.
15:18And even after he's been brought back to India,
15:21Mumbai police hasn't got a chance to interrogate him.
15:23So, how will we get to the crux of the matter?
15:26If Anmol Bishnoi has killed my father,
15:28then who has asked him to do so?
15:30If Laurence Bishnoi is sitting in some jail in Gujarat,
15:32Anmol Bishnoi is with the NIA.
15:34But Mumbai police doesn't get a chance to interrogate them.
15:37So, I mean, how does any of this make sense?
15:39And how are we going to get to the crux of matter in any of the shootings?
15:43In a place like Mumbai, you're hearing in Juhu somebody's been shot,
15:47in Bandra somebody's been shot,
15:48there are gunshots here, there are gunshots there.
15:50What are we heading to?
15:52No, so what is your theory on Laurence Bishnoi there?
15:55As I keep saying, here is someone,
15:56he and his brother in high security jail in Sabarmathi,
16:00and their sharpshooters seem to have a free run,
16:03moving around with impunity,
16:05one day in Canada, one day in India.
16:07Have you written to the Home Ministry also,
16:10saying, why is the Mumbai police being denied access to Bishnois
16:15when we know that they are behind my father's murder?
16:18100%, we've asked Anmol Bishnoi to be tried and to be interrogated in Mumbai.
16:23We've said that if he's killed my father,
16:26then at whose behest has he done it?
16:27We have also named certain people who we think could be behind my father's murder,
16:31who probably would have used Bishnoi as an angle.
16:34But none of them have even been interrogated,
16:36which is very unfortunate.
16:38And if these Bishnoi brothers create mayhem in Mumbai,
16:41then what is stopping them from, you know,
16:44the Mumbai police to actually go and get them to Mumbai,
16:47interrogate them and ask them who and what is their motive?
16:50You know, it's beyond me.
16:53I do not understand what's stopping the police from doing that.
16:58Do you therefore, let me ask the big budget,
17:00do you believe that they are getting some protection from someone higher up?
17:03I want a direct answer.
17:04Do you believe the Bishnoi brothers are being protected?
17:09I mean, it looks like that.
17:11Yeah, it does look like that.
17:13Okay, I'm going to leave it there, Zeeshan.
17:16As I said, you know, it is very, very unfortunate if a gangster,
17:22what does it say about law and order if a gangster sitting in a jail in Sabarmathi
17:26can direct a sharpshooter gang like this?
17:28Good to have you on the show.
17:29Thank you very much, Zeeshan Siddiqui, for joining me.
17:31Now, remember, this Lawrence Bishnoi gang has continued to operate
17:36even while Bishnoi himself remains behind bars in a high security Sabarmathi jail in Gujarat.
17:42Investigators say the gang is using social media to recruit vulnerable youth
17:47while overseas handlers allegedly coordinate the extortion and shootings through encrypted networks.
17:54But is it also simple?
17:55Or is Lawrence Bishnoi running a parallel network?
18:00Take a look at this report.
18:10Young and vulnerable youth.
18:15Looking for quick money.
18:19A dream life abroad.
18:22And the job is essentially trigger-happy, adrenal-pumping work of extortion and shooting.
18:31That's how the gang lords are recruiting and operating.
18:34Particularly Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
18:38They recruit through social media.
18:40And they operate through social media as well.
18:43Like claiming ownership of their infamous misdeeds or threatening.
18:48All of this happens through social media.
18:53It is a transnational organized crime syndicate with a network spread across India and beyond.
18:59In foreign shows.
19:01They are known for extortion and murders.
19:03Once a fresh recruit is ready overseas,
19:06handlers coordinate operations through encrypted apps.
19:10The network operates through local shooters, mostly minors,
19:14to target celebrities and businessmen.
19:18Both central and state investigation agencies have uncovered a disturbing recruitment model.
19:26Leveraging social media, they trap vulnerable youth across Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra,
19:32Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab.
19:37They use platforms like Instagram, Telegram and encrypted messaging apps to broadcast tailored posts,
19:46glamorous reels and sensationalized gang culture.
19:51These posts target socioeconomically disadvantaged and unemployed young men, promising them quick cash, power and prestige.
20:01Once initial contact is established, handler networks systematically groom the recruits.
20:09They are provided basic handling instructions and short crash course training on weapons usage and counter surveillance tactics.
20:17Following this quick preparation, the recruits are handed high-stakes assignments, ranking from extortion and reconnaissance to target killings, offering
20:28payouts between 2 lakh rupees and 3 lakh rupees per hit.
20:34They issue threats through WhatsApp and encrypted apps, demanding protection money from high-profile targets.
20:41The Bishnoi Gang is linked to contract killings, target shooting, drug in arms trafficking.
20:47And the network spans beyond India to different countries.
20:53To seal the deal and ensure absolute compliance, gang leaders promise recruits lucrative jobs and safe passage abroad to escape
21:03local law enforcement.
21:04In reality, agencies note that these recruits serve merely as expendable foot soldiers.
21:12Laurence Bishnoi is sitting behind bars, operates with his gang leaders through phone.
21:18His main contact is his brother, Anmol Bishnoi, sitting in North America.
21:22Anmol in turn operates through Anil Pandit, Harman Sandhu, Hari Boxer.
21:27The trio hires top overseas henchmen to carry out assignments and hires local shooters in India.
21:35That's how Salman Khan and Tiger Shroff or Baba Siddiqui are targeted.
21:40Bearer Report, India Today.
21:47Okay, so tonight I'm going to raise the unanswered questions on Laurence Bishnoi's gang and listen to them carefully.
21:54How does a jailed gangster allegedly run an international crime syndicate from jail?
22:00Who is providing the communication pipeline to the Bishnoi gang?
22:05Are phones, encrypted messaging, intermediaries or other channels being used to run the operation?
22:12And if so, why has the system failed to shut them down?
22:16Number three.
22:17How does this network operate across borders?
22:20If the gang's activities extend beyond India to Nepal, Canada and other parts,
22:25who is coordinating its operations abroad?
22:28And what are Indian law enforcement agencies really doing to dismantle that network?
22:34Number four.
22:36Who is accountable for the security breach that allegedly takes place inside Sabarmathi jail?
22:41If the reports of mobile phones, iPads and communication from prison are credible,
22:47How did they get past the security apparatus so easily?
22:51Has any jail official till date been held accountable?
22:56Question number five.
22:57Why are different state police forces struggling to get access to the alleged kingpin?
23:02Why is the Mumbai police, for example, being denied access to Laurence Bishnoi
23:07even though these targeted killings are taking place in Mumbai?
23:11Number six.
23:12Is the state dismantling the Laurence Bishnoi syndicate or merely arresting its foot soldiers?
23:19With alleged associates operating outside India and overseas,
23:23where is the coordinated strategy to choke its finances,
23:27weapon supply, recruitment and extortion network?
23:30And my final question.
23:32If the Indian state knows how Laurence Bishnoi operates, where he is,
23:37why does it appear so difficult to establish how his alleged criminal network continues to function?
23:45Think about these questions, which I want to now take to Amin Singh,
23:49former police commissioner of Mumbai,
23:51someone who was there when the Dawood gang used to operate freely in the 1990s.
23:56Majid Meman, senior advocate and former MP of the Rajya Sabha.
24:00Good to have you both on the show.
24:02You saw those questions, I put Amin Singh.
24:05I mean, to a layman, it seems strange that someone in a high security zone
24:10seems to have this sharpshooter network all intact.
24:14Are you surprised?
24:16And is there any truth to what Zeeshan Siddiqui also suggested?
24:20Someone is shielding or using Laurence Bishnoi.
24:29I was, I was going.
24:32Yes.
24:33Mr. Singh, can you hear me?
24:36Can you hear me, Mr. Singh?
24:38Yeah.
24:39Now, Rajdeep.
24:40Go ahead.
24:41I can now hear, there was a breakdown in between.
24:44But let me begin by saying, I mean, you have raised very valid questions
24:50and they need to be answered by the authorities.
24:52Now, let me begin by saying that this incident of firing on Tiger Shrop
25:00is a very serious incident, serious matter.
25:03It looks like the return of the days of gangland killings after a lapse of 22 years.
25:12You remember these things used to happen in the 90s and early 20s.
25:15But there has been a gap of about 22 years when the city was very peaceful.
25:20But now it has started happening.
25:22It's a matter of concern.
25:24Now, the second thing that I want to say is that I compliment the Bombay police
25:28for cracking the case in 24 hours.
25:32It's a remarkable piece of investigation.
25:34I must compliment and everybody must agree to that.
25:37But let me also caution that the boys who have been caught in Rajasthan,
25:45they seem to be hired paid assassins.
25:49They may not know exactly who and why they have been assigned this task.
25:55I have experienced this myself in many gangland killings when I was in the police service.
26:02But let us hope that their interrogation will give some clue
26:08which will lead the police to solve the mystery of Laurence Bishnoye.
26:13Sir, one minute.
26:18You want the police to interrogate the foot soldiers, these sharpshooters.
26:23But till today, the Home Ministry has not allowed the Bishnoye brothers themselves to be interrogated.
26:30Laurence Bishnoye and his brother have not been interrogated.
26:32The so-called kingpins.
26:34What does that say?
26:39I am only saying that let us hope that the interrogation of these three fellows who have been caught in
26:44Kota.
26:48Yeah, go ahead.
26:49Go ahead, sir.
26:52Please go ahead.
26:53Let us hope that the interrogation of these three, the interrogation of these three boys who have been caught in
26:59Kota
27:00will lead to the clue which will help us solve the mystery of Laurence Bishnoye.
27:05But I have my doubts because as it often happens, they are hired, paid assassins.
27:12They don't know ultimate aim and who is behind this all kinds of things.
27:16But well, this as far as your question as to why police have not been given access to Savarmati jail
27:23to interrogate this,
27:24I can only say two things.
27:26And Mr. Majid Mehman will agree with me that anyone who is in the jail custody is under the orders
27:34of the judiciary,
27:35not under the orders of the government of India or state government or the police.
27:39Police cannot get access unless they have been permitted by the judiciary because he is in judicial custody.
27:47Now, question is, you say that the government of India has not permitted.
27:52I do not know whether this is true.
27:55Sir, the Home Ministry order under Section 303 BNSS, the Home Ministry has so far denied access to Laurence Bishnoye.
28:07Families have gone to court, it has been opposed.
28:11I think…
28:11He has…
28:18Okay, let me go to Majid Mehman then. Majid Mehman, you want to respond?
28:22Majid Mehman Singh is saying it is the judiciary whose primary responsibility it should be.
28:27I think, Rajdeep, I need a few minutes to explain a few facts because I have heard Zeeshan on your
28:35television just a few minutes ago.
28:37And I am really shocked as to, you know, what his grievances are.
28:42He is a part of government in Maharashtra.
28:45And very sadly, he has been denied enhancement of his security when he is getting renewed threats.
28:52And he is also aggrieved by inefficiency in conducting the true probe towards the truth as to the murder of
29:02his father.
29:02That is one part of it.
29:03Now let us come to the present situation.
29:05You are right, Rajdeep, and I think I may, to some extent, disagree with my friend, Mr. Mahesh Singh Ji,
29:13the former commissioner.
29:14You see, the police has to make an effort by asking the court to allow them to interrogate a person
29:22in judicial custody.
29:23There is no difficulty.
29:24No court would deny such an application.
29:27That has not been done.
29:29And on the contrary, as you say, that the Home Ministry is obstructing access to Vishnui, which is extremely serious.
29:39This needs to be probed thoroughly.
29:42What is the interest of the Home Ministry in protecting such a criminal who is operating from inside the prison?
29:49The second important thing which I want to highlight to your viewers, that look at the pathetic situation.
29:57It is intriguing.
29:58It is shocking.
30:00One wonders that how a person from inside the prison can operate such kinds of acts that he would hire
30:08people and he would have full soldiers.
30:10They would equip themselves with weapons.
30:13They would come to a city like Mumbai, and in broad daylight they could even attempt to kill some celebrity.
30:20This means that this man in prison is being facilitated.
30:26Unless he has an iPhone, unless he has a mobile phone, unless he has other facilities to go on with
30:33his operation.
30:34This is not possible.
30:35This means corruptibility.
30:37This means failure on the part of the prison authorities.
30:41The first thing that needs to be done, the Sabarmati superintendent of prison should be sacked.
30:46He should be removed from there.
30:47How can a person operate and do such heinous crimes from inside the prison?
30:53It could be, Mr. Mehmen, someone operating on the behalf of Lawrence Vishnui.
30:57It could be some of the handlers operating from Canada on behalf of Lawrence Vishnui.
31:01But then at the instance of Lawrence, Lawrence must be briefing them as to who should be the target.
31:07How is he communicating?
31:08How is he ordering from inside prison?
31:11Are you convinced therefore that Lawrence Vishnui has access to a mobile phone inside jail?
31:17Or is that your suspicion?
31:19No, no.
31:20It is no question of suspicion or knowledge.
31:23How could he do it from inside the prison?
31:26Please tell me.
31:27You place, just imagine a prisoner.
31:31How does he have access to anybody outside?
31:34You see, when a person is undergoing sentence or a person is an undertrived prisoner in judicial custody,
31:40he cannot contact even his family members without the leave of the court.
31:45He cannot contact even doctors without the leave of the court.
31:48How can he contact his assistants or his fellow gang members and get the foot soldiers hired, fix their price,
31:59pay them, equip them with weapons?
32:01How can all this thing happen?
32:03It is apparently, sir, happening also through Canada at one level.
32:08Even though there are question marks over whether Lawrence Vishnui has access to mobile phones in jail.
32:15But I just want to draw a comparison between him and Dawud Ebrahim's gang that operated in the 1990s.
32:21Remember, Dawud Ebrahim started with local crime in Mumbai during the 1970s first.
32:26Lawrence Vishnui started with student politics and crimes in Punjab in the late 2000s.
32:32Dawud Ebrahim grew from Mumbai into a multi-state international operation.
32:35He got support from Pakistan.
32:38Lawrence Vishnui expanded across North India, Maharashtra and international borders, especially Canada.
32:44Dawud Ebrahim, as I said, aligned with Pakistan intelligence anti-India terror frameworks,
32:49particularly during the Mumbai blast of 1993.
32:52Lawrence Vishnui is being linked now with some Khalistan outfits like Babar Khalsa,
32:56but his gang has also been accused of taking out Khalistani separatists in Canada.
33:03Now, on whose BS is he doing that?
33:05Dawud Ebrahim runs a network from Pakistan even now.
33:09Lawrence Vishnui is lodged in a jail in Ahmedabad in Sabarmathi.
33:14Dawud Ebrahim allegedly still active in UK, West Asia, Pakistan, Africa, Thailand.
33:18Lawrence Vishnui in countries with large Punjabi diaspora like US, Canada, UK and Australia.
33:25Dawud Ebrahim relies on sharpshooters. Many of them were part of his network.
33:30Lawrence Vishnui more decentralized, hires new shooters, which gives them deniability.
33:35You know, MN Singh, you tracked Dawud Ebrahim for years in the 1990s.
33:39Dawud Ebrahim very clearly was fully supported by Pakistan.
33:42Who is backing Lawrence Vishnui?
33:44You know what the Canadian authorities have said?
33:47They have raised questions over Lawrence Vishnui's gang being used by the deep state of this country, of our country
33:54to eliminate people.
33:56So, is Lawrence Vishnui in a sense being used or shielded?
34:02This question, as is being asked today by Majid Mehman, how is he allowed to use mobile phones in jail?
34:14Awaz gaya, awaz gaya.
34:19Can you hear me? Can you hear me, sir?
34:23Yeah, I can hear you now. Now, yes, now I can hear you.
34:28Rajdeep, you are asking very valid questions, but I have no answer to these questions.
34:33You should ask somebody in the government of India.
34:35Now, these are matters. Now, let me tell you what Majid Mehman is saying about this fellow using telephone or
34:43whatever it is and operating from the jail.
34:47Now, these things are not very new. I was IG President of Maharashtra myself and I can tell you, I
34:53was there when the Jinda and Sukha, the murderers of General Vaidya were to be hanged.
34:58And the Jinda and Sukha had managed to get a revolver to kill me and other jails, these things.
35:05And he was operating through one of the constables of the jail. These are not very unusual things, it happens.
35:11But whether it has really happened that way, as I said, you have to solve the mystery of Laurence Bishnoyi.
35:18Because I am not very clear still whether he is behind it.
35:22Because Anil Pandey, who has made the statement and claimed the responsibility for firing on Tiger Shroff,
35:29he has said that as long as Salman Khan, for so long as he does not apologize for killing the
35:36black bug, they will not leave him, they will not leave anybody who is close to him.
35:40So that is the reason he says is the reason for firing. Not why that anything about the government of
35:47India and Canada and things like that.
35:48I think we are guessing at the moment. I will only say, let the investigation proceed and come to a
35:54conclusion.
35:55Then you will have the definite answer to these questions. These are all ponderables. These are all ponderables and we
36:00have to investigate and come to a conclusion with solid evidence.
36:04Otherwise, this guessing work is not going to... I would also like to say that this matter is being investigated
36:11by the NIEA, which functions into the government of India.
36:18Now, what perspective does the government of India and the NIEA have? We don't know. So we can only go
36:23on playing this game.
36:25Sir, one minute. I can only go by what are the facts. In August 2023, Ministry of Home Affairs issued
36:33an order under Section 268 of the CRPC preventing Lawrence Bishnoi from being taken out of prison for interrogation.
36:40It was subsequently extended renewals under Section 2303 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sahitha. The fact is similar orders issued
36:49for Anmol Bishnoi. I want a quick answer therefore from you, Majid Mehman, as we conclude.
36:53Do you believe that there is a need for prison questioning, for custodial interrogation to be given to the Mumbai
37:00police at the very least to question Lawrence Bishnoi?
37:03Because if it is not done, then the impression will go that someone is protecting Lawrence Bishnoi for whatever reason.
37:12Well, Rajdeep, what you say is substantially true. You see, even in the case of Zeeshan, whom we heard a
37:19few minutes before, his father's investigation or trial is not to his satisfaction.
37:26And he has attributed fundamental reason for that being that Bishnois who have claimed to have managed this whole show
37:35of killing his father have not been questioned at all.
37:39He has also said that there are certain other names whom they suspect to have been involved in Baba's murder.
37:45They have also not been interrogated or they are also being protected somehow.
37:50Now, therefore, what is necessary is that the investigation has to be fair, transparent and effective.
37:57It has to lead to truth without trying to help anybody, without trying to shield anybody or without trying to
38:06involve anybody.
38:07M.N. Singh is a very experienced man. We have worked together for several years and I have great respect
38:13for him.
38:13He would share my view that investigator has only one duty, that he has the search of truth, nothing else.
38:24But then, now, why has the Home Ministry prevented interrogation of that man?
38:30Sir, I'm going to leave it there because that is the million dollar question.
38:34Why is the Home Ministry preventing the Mumbai police and other police forces from interrogating Lawrence Bishnoi?
38:41We need an answer to that question. Otherwise, speculation will mount who is using Lawrence Bishnoi and why.
38:49I want to just leave it there.
38:53There is enough information to understand.
38:55Thank you very much to my guests for joining me.
38:57I want to turn to the big story that we have also been getting this evening.
39:00No relief yet for the Kokhrut Janta Party, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.
39:05Their judicial custody has been extended by another two days and they will remain in Tihar Jail.
39:10India today has accessed the Magistrate's order which cites breach of bonds.
39:14Conduct not above board, it says.
39:16Assurance to repeat offence does not inspire confidence.
39:20Magistrate finds sureties unfit, seeks fresh sureties.
39:23Order flags apprehension of breach of peace, public disturbance.
39:28Anshul Singh joining me. Anshul, you are there at the police station.
39:32What is now the expectation?
39:34Will they be released in two days?
39:36Or is there a belief that this could go on for a while longer?
39:43Well, it is very very likely that they could be released in two days because one of the apprehensions that
39:47the Delhi police had is that if at all they step out during the dashera or the festive season then
39:54yet again they could go ahead and call for a protest and yet again a law and order situation could
39:59happen specifically during the season of dashera and the festive season.
40:03And that is one of the probably one of the reasons why the Delhi police decided to go ahead and
40:08seek a five day extended judicial custody of the of the said accused.
40:11In fact, what is very pertinent to note that the Koktochanta party has gone ahead and raised allegations as to
40:17how Ashutosh Ranka and Saurabdas have not been granted bail from the SEM court even after it is a bailable
40:25offence.
40:25To that clarity has also come up in this order. The SEM has made this very very clear that the
40:31sureties that were produced in front of the courts, these sureties were not enough for the court to believe that
40:36the said assurer could have control over Saurabdas and Ashutosh Ranka and can become an assurer in this entire matter.
40:47And that became one of the reasons why over the last five days they were not granted a bail. And
40:51today when the judicial custody came to an end, the Delhi police went ahead and sought a five day extension
40:55of the custody.
40:56However, a two day custody has been given and the next day, next date of hearing is on the 21st
41:00of October.
41:01Okay, so that's on Wednesday. We'll wait and see what happens on Wednesday. But clearly this is a bailable offence.
41:06And once again, the cops may have something to answer.
41:09Okay, let's turn from there to the big story internationally. Europe on the edge. From France to Belgium, Italy and
41:16Portugal, anger over the cost of living, education standards spilling onto the streets.
41:21In France in particular, protests turning violence, buildings torched, shops looted, over 2,000 arrests reported. Take a look at
41:29France's situation.
41:42Europe is on the edge.
41:44Europe is on the edge. Streets on fire. Shops ransacked. Tear gas choking city centres. From France to Belgium, Italy
41:59and Portugal, anger over cost of living is spilling onto the streets.
42:06But in France, the unrest has taken a particularly violent turn. A historic town hall torched.
42:20Shops looted. Public property vandalised.
42:28More than 5.5 lakh people took to the streets as nationwide demonstrations spiraled into violence, triggering clashes with police.
42:38Justice fiscal, social and ecological.
42:41Fiscal, social and environmental justice. In other words, if money were distributed more equitably and did not stay concentrated at
42:49the top, there would be enough for the poor and the underprivileged.
42:57More than 2,000 arrests were reported, while hundreds of officers were injured.
43:03President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting with ministers.
43:10Yesterday, several hundred thousand of our fellow citizens demonstrated with a desire to voice legitimate demands.
43:16We must never confuse them with those who destroyed, vandalised and looted.
43:20These demonstrators expressed concern about the cost of living and fuel prices, which stem from the conflict that began in
43:27the Persian Gulf.
43:28A conflict in which France has taken no part, but whose consequences we are suffering.
43:32I fully understand their concerns.
43:37The anger has been building for months.
43:40Students have protested poor school conditions, overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages.
43:47But the frustration now stretches far beyond education.
43:51Rising household bills, expensive housing, pressure on wages and everyday essentials.
43:57France, however, is not an isolated flashpoint.
44:04In Belgium, protests have drawn attention to the cost of living and pressure on public services.
44:11In Italy, demonstrators have clashed with police amid wider social and economic discontent.
44:21In Portugal, housing affordability and low wages remain major sources of public anger,
44:28as rents and property prices put growing pressure on households.
44:33Across the Atlantic, US President Donald Trump has seized on the violence to attack immigration,
44:40urging France to close its borders and blaming immigrants for the country's troubles.
44:45Across Europe, the triggers may differ, but the underlying pressure is increasingly familiar.
44:52The cost of living strained public services and growing frustration with those in power.
44:58The immediate battle is on the streets.
45:01The bigger battle is over whether Europe's governments can restore public confidence
45:05before the anger erupts again.
45:08Bureau Report, India Today.
45:13Joining me now is Stephen Erlanga, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent, Europe, the New York Times.
45:17Good to have you, Mr. Erlanga, on the show.
45:19What's your sense?
45:20Is this simply about student protests as it began?
45:23It seems to have now spiraled out of control.
45:26You've got the US President saying there is, this is now giving it a race angle.
45:31These are race-related riots.
45:33What explains the volcanic situation in France?
45:37Well, I wouldn't trust the European analysis of Donald Trump, but there is a lot of anxiety.
45:45There's anxiety among young people especially, but also among the workers about their future.
45:54They see the cost of living going up, inflation, energy prices, partly because of the Gulf,
46:00but partly because Europe has failed to deliver the kind of economic growth the European Union promised.
46:10And then you have huge debts, particularly in France, almost 120% of GDP.
46:17And with the rise in interest rates, that's an increasing burden on a budget which is already stretched,
46:26which wants also to spend more money on the military, given what's happening in Ukraine.
46:33And then you add to that a pension system that political courage is lacking to change it.
46:44Macron's effort to raise the pension age to 64 has been attacked and has been pulled back.
46:51So you have older people living longer, retiring younger, and young people who have to pay for all of this
47:02pension costs
47:03are having trouble finding jobs that give them enough money to feel they're living decently.
47:12So if you combine that with anxiety about what's going to happen to the Earth,
47:17what's going to happen with artificial intelligence, what's going to happen with Russia,
47:24you have this period of drift, particularly in France, where President Macron,
47:31who's now today actually in the Middle East, is coming to the end of his term.
47:36He's very unpopular.
47:38His government is a minority government having trouble even getting a modest budget passed.
47:45So it is a particularly tense time.
47:50And as you suggested, protests that began over students being unhappy with their classrooms
47:57have burgeoned into nationwide protests over the cost of living and many other things.
48:04Can I just stop you there?
48:05You seem to suggest, Mr. El-Langa, that this is social and economic discontent.
48:10It began as that.
48:11But this kind of violence, what explains the extreme violence taking place?
48:17Has it at some stage therefore been taken over by other groups with all their concerns,
48:23some of which could be related to immigration policies,
48:26some of which could be related to a sense of exclusion from society?
48:29Has it all come to a boil?
48:31It's like France was on a volcano waiting to explode.
48:35What explains the scale of the violence?
48:38Well, it is worth saying, having lived in France myself,
48:42the French love to demonstrate and they love protests.
48:45And often their protests are infiltrated by the sort of masked people you see
48:52who are interested in some violence and are interested in some looting and basically they call them bricoleurs.
49:03I mean, they're sort of looking for a fight.
49:06And the police, as usual in France, are very happy to give them a fight.
49:11So there are, as Macron himself said, there are legitimate reasons for people to protest,
49:17but there are also people who have infiltrated these protests
49:20and have created some of this violence that you see.
49:26But, you know, every New Year's Eve, French go crazy and they burn cars.
49:31And, I mean, it's a kind of rite of passage in France.
49:35In some ways, parts of France are fairly violent.
49:41No, I take your point, but in conclusion, are we seeing the far left and the far right,
49:46both of whom are looking at next year's elections, using this for their own political agenda?
49:51The far right blaming identity politics,
49:54the far left looking at it from an economic, social discontent perspective.
49:58And that's the clash that's actually playing out on the streets of France with Macron caught in the middle.
50:06That's some of it, certainly.
50:07I mean, Marine Le Pen on the far right has a law and order shtick,
50:12and she will benefit from this.
50:14She also has an anti-immigration policy.
50:18And there is an assumption, we don't know for sure,
50:23that some of the rioters have come from the banlieue, from the French suburbs.
50:31But there's a lot of politicization and pressing on racial buttons here
50:39that is not necessarily justified by the facts.
50:45Mr. Erlanga, for giving some context to what's happening,
50:48I appreciate you joining us.
50:50I hope viewers are listening to this,
50:51because there are often assumptions made that what is happening in France is similar to India.
50:56These are different countries, very, very different situations playing out.
51:00And I hope those who are listening carefully to one of the most credible voices in Europe
51:04have understood the complexity of what's happening in France.
51:08Good to have you on the show, sir.
51:11Thank you very much.
51:11To tonight's ground report, 19 lives lost, 7 arrests made,
51:17and still serious questions over safety lapses in the Kolkata-Durga-Pooja stampede.
51:23Two days after that stampede, alleged VVIP privileges,
51:27overcrowded exits and poor crowd management are under the scrutiny.
51:31Also under the scrutiny are the organizers.
51:34Are those with connections to the BJP in West Bengal being let off lightly?
51:40Take a look.
51:57Two days after the stampede at the Chor Bagan Durga-Pooja Pandal in Kolkata claimed at least 19 lives,
52:04it is becoming clear how faulty planning, unsafe infrastructure and commercial greed let down devotees.
52:13Investigators and eyewitnesses reveal a series of missteps one after another led to the tragedy that has left the city
52:21in mourning.
52:22The administration says an unauthorized public announcement warning of a possibility of structural collapse
52:28triggered a surge of crowd towards restricted exits.
52:31Eyewitnesses claim people also surged into the Pandal to take cover from sudden rainfall.
52:38The inbound and outbound crowds collided with very few police and volunteers present to regulate the flow.
52:45Initial police findings point to several violations by the organizers.
52:50A dedicated VIP corridor drastically restricted space for the general public.
52:57Unauthorized commercial stalls further choked routes.
53:01Organizers allegedly sold passes through e-commerce platforms for 399 rupees, allowing buyers to bypass the queues.
53:10Many of these passes were allegedly being sold in black.
53:14Exit gate is so low, the entry gate is so low, the entry gate is so low, the narrow gate
53:18is so narrow.
53:18And in such a big pandle, you are so narrow gate.
53:21When people are going, they are like a spiral of jail.
53:25They have given the flip-cut minutes, they have given the tag, they have given the VIP passes,
53:28which they are not accepting, which is why they are angry.
53:31Are there volunteers enough?
53:32They were children.
53:33Children were volunteers.
53:38Seven people linked to the pandal have been arrested so far.
53:43These include the organizing committee, office bearers and volunteers.
53:47The local MLA from Jorah Sanko, Vijay Ojha, who is also the chairman of the committee, however, has evaded scrutiny.
53:55And we were in the local MLA, and we have in the committee.
54:08The case that we had taken care of today, was asked that the commander of the committee members were taken
54:15from the prison,
54:17and the rest of the committee members and the rest of the people we got asked.
54:28The Mamta Banerjee faction of TMC is accusing the state government of shielding the guilty.
54:55C.M. Suvendu Adhikari has urged Pooja committees to cancel VIP entry in all pandas.
55:17The state government has now set up a panel of nine IPS officers with crowd management
55:22experience to monitor Pooja celebrations in the city.
55:26As 19 lives were lost in a preventable tragedy in Kolkata, the blame game intensifies between
55:33police, organizers and political patrons.
55:37The ground-level volunteers have faced swift arrest.
55:40However, the larger question remains that whether the accountability will ever reach the high
55:46table or the powerful will walk free and the ground-level scapegoats will take the fall.
55:53With video journalist Shubhajit Gain, Tapu Sengupto for India Today in Kolkata.
56:01Saddening story there, but let's turn to something happier because after all, today is Mahanavmi.
56:06So from a tribute to Uttam Kumar to a Cockroach-themed Pandal and a Durga idol crafted from matchsticks,
56:13creativity knows no bounds as ever, this Durga Puja too.
56:16Take a look at how art, culture and devotion come together as devotees immerse themselves
56:21in the love and spirit of Mahanavmi.
56:24Let me leave you with this story.
56:27Stay well, stay safe.
56:29Jai Hind, Namaskar.
56:32Good night.
56:48Durga Puja Pandals are more than just about devotion.
56:55They're also a celebration of art and culture.
56:59This pandal in Purulia is dedicated to actor Uttam Kumar, Bingo's cultural icon.
57:29This Puja Pandal in Katihar, in Bihar, has Cockroach as its theme.
57:36And comes with a selfie point.
57:41But the pandal theme has nothing to do with politics, insists the organizers.
58:13In Rotas, an artist has made mad.
58:34The stampede in Kolkata has cast a shadow over Durga Puja celebrations.
58:41The mood at stores has turned somber.
58:47Bureau Report, India Today.