Security tightened in Tihar jail after arrival of gangster Anmol Bishnoi

Authorities at Tihar jail have significantly heightened security after the recent transfer of “gangster” Anmol Bishnoi, brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, from the National Investigation Agency’s custody and the inmates linked to gangs are being closely monitored.

Anmol, who is namedin 31 criminal cases across several States, was deported from the US on November 19 this year and was shifted to Tihar jail on December 12. He has been bookedfor his alleged involvement in the killings of singer and rapper Sidhu Moosewala in 2022, Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique in 2024, and for his involvementin the firing incident outside actor Salman Khan’s residence in 2024.

According to a senior Tihar official, the prison administration has carried out a detailed assessment report before lodging Anmol. “We studied the profiles and history of the inmates associated with gangs and with themukhbirs(informers). We also analysed profiles of other inmates who fraternise with gangs,” the official said. After officials prepared an extensive report on inmates linked to various gangs, the authorities chose to confine Bishnoi in a high-security cell number 4.

Anmol is currently lodged in a 9×15-foot cell. Inmates in the surrounding cells don’t have links to any gangs.

24×7 surveillance

“He [Anmol] is served food inside and is not allowed to interact with other prisoners,” the official said, adding that he is under round-the-clock surveillance and security near members of the rival gangs has also been heightened. Although Anmol is “allowed for limited movement” to ensure he is not kept in solitary confinement, no other inmate is permitted to access the space when he makes phone calls, the official said.

300 phones confiscated

“We are also constantly keeping a close eye on any possible movements of devices like kechaoda phones that are small and can be passed down easily,” said the officer.

According to data accessed by The Hindu, over 300 such phones have been confiscated from members of several gangs lodged inside the jail since January 2025.

While the police in different States have yet to interrogate Anmol, he will attend all legal proceedings via video conferencing, said the officer.

The decision to house him in a cell with video conferring feature comes after the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification stating that he must remain inside the jail and not be moved to other States for the pending cases against him owing to the “serious and credible” threats to his life and safety.

Ahead of MHA’s order, Anmol had informed the court that he faced threats from other rival gangs and a Pakistan-based gangster, following which all court proceedings happened via video conferencing, even when he was in NIA’s custody.