A city court on Tuesday allowed Punjab Police to take into its custody gangster Lawrence Bishnoi so that they can question him in the case registered to probe the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. The court has also granted transit remand.

Describing Bishnoi as a key conspirator, the Punjab Police said that his custodial interrogation is necessary. Bishnoi’s counsel opposed the custody to Punjab Police saying that there is an apprehension that he may be killed in a fake encounter.

Earlier, Punjab Police on Tuesday informed the court that Bishnoi is a key conspirator of singer’s murder while seeking gangster’s transit remand to produce him before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Mansa in accordance with the law.

 “As per the confession made by the arrested accused, Bishnoi had given the task to co-accused to carry out the murder of Sidhu Moosewala. Delhi Police had questioned Bishnoi and they have clearly stated that Bishnoi was the key conspirator in the planned murder of Punjabi singer via press conferences,” said Punjab Police counsel.

“The accused arrested by Punjab Police had also stated that they were in direct touch with Satwinder Singh alias Goldy Brar, a close associate of Bishnoi,” said Punjab Police counsel said.

 “All the accused arrested so far are closely associated with Lawrence Bishnoi and his associates and they have been involved together in multiple FIRs,” Punjab Police told the court.

“The motive for Sidhu Moosewala murder was to avenge the killing of Vikramjeet Singh alias Vicky Middukhera, in which there was an alleged involvement of Shagundeep Singh, manager of Shubhdeep Singh,” said the Punjab Police counsel.

According to Advocate Vishal Chopra representing Lawrence Bishnoi, the court has granted transit remand with conditions which states that Punjab Police will get his medical test done before taking him away, all safety measures will be kept in mind and he will be handcuffed and shackled.

“He will be taken in bullet proof vehicle. There will be complete videography right from him being taken away to being presented before the court.

Court has passed a detailed order that Punjab Police will be completely responsible for his life and security and that no mishappening should take place with him,” said Chopra.

On Tuesday, the Delhi Police had brought Bishnoi to the Patiala House Court after his detention period ended in connection with an Arms Act prosecution.

Earlier, Special Cell of Delhi Police had said that the gangster, Lawrence Bishnoi, was the ‘mastermind’ behind the killing of Moosewala.

H S Dhaliwal, the Special Commissioner of Police, Special Cell had said that in a joint operation, the special cell police team and Maharashtra Police have also arrested Siddhesh Hiraman Kamle alias Mahakal, a close associate of the main shooter in the killing of Moosewala.

Sources said that Bishnoi, who is in the Delhi Police’s custody, had planned the killing of Moosewala while he was in prison. It is suspected that Bishnoi was in touch with the killers.

“On his orders the shooting was carried out and earlier also, on Bishnoi directions the recce of singer house was conducted by his gang members,” said the sources.

Following his arrest, Mahakal has spilled the beans of Bishnoi’s complexity in masterminding the killing of Moosewala.