Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi masterminded Sidhu Moose Wala murder: Police

Lawrence Bishnoi was the key suspect in the killing of Sidhu Moose Wala. But he had not confessed to the crime, saying instead that his gang was involved and they had planned and executed the crime.

Bishnoi, who is lodged in Delhi's Tihar jail, has been questioned several times by the police.

He is said to have connections with the Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar, who claimed responsibility for Moose Wala's murder in a Facebook post.

The motive, he claimed, was retaliation for the killing of Akali leader Vicky Middukhera, which took place last year.

Bishnoi has also denied having any role in connection with the threat letter sent to superstar Salman Khan and his father and screenwriter Salim Khan.

Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, known as Sidhu Moose Wala, was shot dead by some unidentified attackers in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29, a day after his security cover was scaled down by the Punjab government.

His body had 19 bullet injuries and he probably died within 15 minutes of being shot, his autopsy report had revealed.

The bullets had hit his kidneys, liver, lungs and spine, as per the autopsy.

On Wednesday, senior police officer HS Dhaliwal said at least 5 people were involved in the murder.

One of them, Siddhesh Hiraman Kamle alias Mahakaal, who is a close associate of one of the shooters, has been arrested, he said.

The police said Mahakaal has been arrested from Pune and five more suspects have been identified in the case.