The court ruled that a Union Home Ministry order preventing Anmol Bishnoi’s movement outside Tihar Jail takes precedence over Mumbai Police’s custody request. The decision temporarily blocks his transfer for questioning.
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A Special NIA court has refused Mumbai Police’s request to take custody of Anmol Bishnoi in connection with the murder investigation of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddiqui. The court said it could not allow the transfer because of an order issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which bars Anmol from being moved out of Tihar Jail in Delhi.
The decision was delivered by Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Parashant Sharma on July 22 after considering the legal restrictions placed on the accused by the Central Government.
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Anmol Bishnoi is the brother and an alleged close associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. He was deported from the United States on November 19, 2025. After returning to India, he was questioned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a case linked to the banned terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).
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Following the interrogation, he was sent to judicial custody and has since been lodged in Tihar Jail in New Delhi.
Mumbai Police had approached the Special NIA court seeking Anmol Bishnoi’s custody for investigation in the murder case of Baba Siddiqui. During the hearing, a Mumbai Police Inspector submitted official documents before the court.
These included a letter issued by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, D (Special), DCB, CIR, Mumbai, along with a request letter from the City Sessions Court, Greater Mumbai.
The request asked the court to direct the Superintendent of Tihar Jail to hand over the custody of Anmol Lovindersing Bishnoi, also known by the aliases Bhaiji, AB Bhai and Bhanu, to Police Inspector Arun Ram Thorat of the Anti Extortion Cell, DCB, CID, Mumbai.
The purpose was to produce him before the Special Judge of Court No. 55 in Mumbai for investigation into a case registered at Nirmal Nagar Police Station in 2024.
During the proceedings, the NIA opposed the transfer by producing a government order before the court.
Special Public Prosecutor Rahul Tyagi, Public Prosecutor Kushdeep Gaur and advocate Amit Rohila appeared on behalf of the NIA.
The agency submitted an order dated December 5, 2025, issued by the Under Secretary to the Government of India. It states that Central Government has restricted movement of Anmol Lovindersing Bishnoi outside Tihar Jail for one year beginning from December 5, 2025.
After examining the Home Ministry’s order, court concluded that it had no option but to reject Mumbai Police’s plea.
In its order, the court observed that because of Central Government’s restriction, physical custody of Anmol Bishnoi could not be handed over to Police Inspector Arun Thorat.
As a result, Mumbai Police will not be able to take Anmol Bishnoi out of Tihar Jail for investigation in the Baba Siddiqui murder case unless restriction imposed by Union Ministry of Home Affairs is changed or expires.
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