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Bishnoi, 3 others acquitted in Arms Act case; one convicted

The case was registered at Sohana police station on November 19, 2022, after ASI Gurpratap Singh received a tip-off about Sonu, a proclaimed offender in multiple robbery cases across Punjab, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh. He was arrested near TDI City, Landran, with a bag containing four pistols (.32 bore), one pistol (.315 bore), and ammunition.

Published on: Oct 4, 2025, 08:00:04 IST
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A local court acquitted gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and three others in a 2022 Arms Act case, while convicting one accused, Sonu of Meerut, for illegal possession of firearms.

A local court acquitted gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and three others in a 2022 Arms Act case, while convicting one accused, Sonu of Meerut, for illegal possession of firearms. (ANI File)
A local court acquitted gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and three others in a 2022 Arms Act case, while convicting one accused, Sonu of Meerut, for illegal possession of firearms. (ANI File)

The case was registered at Sohana police station on November 19, 2022, after ASI Gurpratap Singh received a tip-off about Sonu, a proclaimed offender in multiple robbery cases across Punjab, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh. He was arrested near TDI City, Landran, with a bag containing four pistols (.32 bore), one pistol (.315 bore), and ammunition.

Later, disclosures led to the arrest of others including Deepak Pundir alias Deepu, Bikramjit Singh, and Aseem alias Hashem Baba. However, the court ruled that custodial statements without corroborating evidence hold no value, and no further recoveries were made.

The prosecution’s case against Bishnoi and others weakened after the investigating officer failed to complete his testimony. The court relied on the deposition of sub-inspector Deepak Singh, who confirmed the arms were recovered from Sonu.

The judge ruled that only Sonu’s possession of arms was proven beyond doubt. He was convicted under Section 25 of the Arms Act and sentenced to three years in prison along with a 500 fine. Failure to pay will result in a one-month extension of the sentence.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hillary Victor

Hillary Victor is a Special Correspondent, with over two decades of experience in impactful, ethical, and public-interest journalism. He works in the Punjab Bureau, covering housing and urban development, transport and civil aviation, environment, science and technology, forests and wildlife, with a strong focus on governance, public policy, infrastructure, and sustainable development. His reporting reflects a deep understanding of Punjab's socio-political landscape and is driven by accuracy, accountability, and a commitment to serving the public interest. Over the course of his career, he has built a reputation for producing high-impact, exclusive stories that have shaped public discourse and prompted policy and administrative action. He has been honoured with six 'Best Journalist Awards' by the Hindustan Times management for his path-breaking reportage. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to journalism, he was also conferred the 'Best Journalist Award' by the Government of Punjab during the 2010 Republic Day celebrations.

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