NEW DELHI, May 24 — The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key operative of the Lawrence Bishnoi crime syndicate for allegedly running a fake passport racket that helped gang members flee the country and evade law enforcement.
The accused, Rahul Sarkar, was taken into NIA custody on Thursday following his appearance before the agency’s Special Court at Patiala House. Sarkar is believed to have headed the gang’s “passport module,” arranging forged travel documents for high-profile fugitives.
“Sarkar facilitated the escape of several gang members using counterfeit passports,” the NIA said in a statement. Among those he allegedly helped was Sachin Thapan, alias Sachin Thapan Bishnoi—a prime accused in the 2022 killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala—who reportedly fled India using documents arranged by Sarkar.
The arrest forms part of a larger investigation launched in August 2022 on the orders of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The case focuses on a broader conspiracy involving organized criminal gangs aiming to raise funds, recruit youth, and carry out violent acts in India and abroad.
The ongoing probe is being conducted under Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, along with Sections 17, 18, and 18-B of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Officials said that Sarkar’s interrogation is expected to expose the full scale of the fake passport network and could result in additional arrests.
“The agency is intensifying efforts to dismantle the logistical support systems that enable criminals to escape justice via international routes,” said an NIA official.
The crackdown comes amid increased scrutiny of transnational crime syndicates and their networks that exploit weak documentation systems to sustain criminal operations beyond India’s borders.
