A Delhi court has ordered framing of charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) against gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and 19 others for running an organised crime syndicate operating across the country.
The court, presided over by Special Judge Prashant Sharma, found that the accused were involved in multiple crimes, including contract killings, extortion from businessmen and celebrities, social media threats, and arm supply.
The court noted that the gang was involved in as many as 71 cases of murder, extortion, and arms supply, and that they had accumulated wealth by means of extortion from different people using violence or threat.
The judge ordered framing of charges under Sections 3 and 4 of MCOCA and under various provisions of the Arms and Explosives Act.
The court has set April 30 as the next date of hearing, when all the accused persons will be produced before the court in person for formal framing of charges.
Bishnoi, however, shall not be brought to court in person due to law and order concerns, as per a November 2025 order by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The case was lodged by the Delhi Police Special Cell in 2021 against Bishnoi and 19 others for allegedly being involved in multiple cases.
