The Mumbai Crime Branch is assessing options to interrogate Lawrence Bishnoi, currently imprisoned at Sabarmati Central Jail, in connection with a recent shooting investigation. A standing Ministry of Home Affairs directive under Section 268 of the CrPC restricts the transfer of the prisoner, necessitating high-level judicial clearance from an NIA court for any custodial access.
The investigation into the recent shooting involving an actor's vehicle has directed police attention toward jailed individual Lawrence Bishnoi. The Mumbai Crime Branch is currently weighing the requirements for interrogation against significant administrative and legal constraints that govern the prisoner’s custody. Bishnoi is presently detained in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Central Jail, subject to a restrictive directive issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. This order, invoked under Section 268 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), prohibits the movement of the prisoner from the facility. The mandate, which has been in place since August 2023 and is subject to annual renewal, is designed to ensure the containment of high-profile inmates and prevent security risks associated with transit between jurisdictions. For the Mumbai Police to proceed with custodial questioning, they must navigate a complex judicial pathway. This requires filing an application for explicit authorization from an NIA court, a process that entails federal-level coordination. The agency is currently determining whether the potential value of a direct interrogation justifies the extensive bureaucratic timeline required to secure such a transfer. Historically, applications by various state agencies for the transfer of inmates under such high-security classifications have faced significant procedural friction. Consequently, the investigating team is focusing on strengthening its case through forensic findings and testimonies from individuals currently in custody in Rajasthan. The outcome of these efforts will determine whether the department continues to pursue the formal legal channels required to access the prisoner or relies on evidence already in its possession.