NIA Arrests Key Passport Forger Linked to Lawrence Bishnoi Syndicate in Major Crackdown

New Delhi, May 23, 2025: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Rahul Sarkar, a crucial associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate, who played a pivotal role in helping gang members obtain fake passports to escape the country and avoid prosecution.

According to the agency, Rahul Sarkar was the key operator of the passport forgery module run by the Bishnoi gang and has been sent to NIA custody by the Special Court at Patiala House, New Delhi. His arrest marks a significant development in the NIA’s broader investigation into organized crime and transnational criminal networks.

Rahul is accused of facilitating forged travel documents for several wanted gangsters, including Sachin Thapan alias Sachin Thapan Bishnoi, one of the principal accused in the 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. His role, the NIA said, was integral to enabling the gang’s top operatives to flee the country after committing serious crimes.

The arrest is part of an ongoing probe under a case registered by the NIA in August 2022, based on a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The case involves a wider conspiracy by organized crime syndicates, including the Bishnoi gang, to generate illicit funds, recruit young individuals, and expand their criminal activities both within India and internationally.

Officials confirmed that further custodial interrogation of Rahul Sarkar will help uncover additional links in the criminal network, particularly those involved in logistics and international operations.

The Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate is already under intense scrutiny for its role in extortion, contract killings, and links to terror networks, with the NIA and other security agencies tracking its operations across India and abroad.