Delhi: Lawrence Bishnoi questioned; moves court, says he fears encounter

NEW DELHI: Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, lodged in Tihar Jail number 8, was questioned by investigating agencies even as searches were conducted in his cell on Monday, a day after his role emerged in the killing of Punjab Congress functionary and pop singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu alias Sidhu Moosewala.A source said the cells of his close associates, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Sampat Nehra, were also searched for a cellphone he was believed to be using. Bishnoi and his aides were using a number 98436**934 in jail.On Monday, Bishnoi moved court expressing apprehension about an encounter at the hands of Punjab Police and requested that he be handcuffed and shackled while being taken out of jail on a production warrant. He also requested for proper security arrangements during his travel and that the court should be informed prior to his movement.Bishnoi is believed to have ordered the hit on Moosewala on the suspicion that the politician had sheltered the killers of his associate, Vicky Middukheda. Bishnoi’s close associate, Goldy Brar, claimed responsibility for the killing.The agencies are also examining Bishnoi’s another close aide, Shahrukh, who was recently arrested by Delhi Police. During interrogation, he revealed that he was tasked with killing Moosewala by Brar and Bishnoi. Cops had stumbled upon communication between Shahrukh and Brar in this regard on Signal messaging app.“After being assigned the hit, Shahrukh and his aides, Bhola and Sonu Kajalan, went to Moosewala’s village with Uzi guns, but aborted the task on seeing four armed PSOs. They then asked for AK rifles and Bear spray guns to complete the task,” said an officer. In Sunday’s incident, cops suspect that a vehicle used by the assailants was the white Bolero used by Bhola and Sonu during their recce.Shahrukh revealed that he got logistical support from Sachin, who had earlier worked as the manager for another singer close to Bishnoi. The singer is also on target now, the source said. Bhagwanpuria, whose jail cell was searched on Monday, had provided weapons to Shahrukh and other shooters for their failed task at the time.Delhi Police have shared their findings with intel agencies and Punjab Police and a probe is being conducted based on them.