Gangster Anmol Bishnoi, who allegedly masterminded the conspiracy to murder NCP leader Baba Siddique, operated his crime syndicate from abroad using Snapchat’s disappearing chats, screenshot alerts and cloud-cloned accounts, according to sources familiar with the probe. Anmol, now arrested by the NIA, 
relied almost entirely on digital platforms designed to leave minimal forensic trace.

In a statement, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said Anmol is the 19th accused arrested in the Lawrence Bishnoi-led terror-gangster network. According to the NIA, he used his base in the United States to “run the syndicate’s operations, direct terrorist activities and coordinate with shooters on the ground” for the Bishnoi gang. He also allegedly “provided shelter, funding and logistical support” and was involved in extortion from abroad. 

Anmol Bishnoi, key accused in murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, accompanied by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials during his deportation from the US to India. Pic/PTI

A Delhi court on Wednesday sent Anmol to 11 days of NIA custody after he was produced by the agency in Patiala House Court around 5 pm amid tight security following his arrest upon his deportation from the United States a day earlier.

Snapchat as command centre

Sources said Anmol preferred Snapchat because its auto-delete messages, vanish mode, and instant screenshot alerts ensured that sensitive instructions disappeared before any device could be examined. He allegedly used the platform to communicate with shooters, share reconnaissance clips and monitor readiness for the hit.

“Most instructions came through disappearing messages. By the time devices were examined, nothing was left,” a source told mid-day.

Cloned IDs, VPN masks

According to the charge sheet (filed in the murder case of Baba Siddiquie), Anmol avoided regular calls or traceable WhatsApp accounts. Instead, he operated through a revolving network of cloud-cloned Instagram profiles, temporary Snapchat usernames, virtual numbers obtained through online verification services and VPN-masked logins that hid his location abroad.

The charge sheet filed by the Crime Branch notes that many of these accounts vanished within days, making the retrieval of digital evidence extremely difficult. Several accused said orders came from IDs that changed almost every week.

Motivation and revenge

Investigators said Anmol frequently sent voice notes, short videos and location pins to shooters. His voice messages were often played on speakerphone during meetings to avoid leaving any trace on individual devices.

He also allegedly motivated young shooters, many in their early 20s, promising cash advances, a flat and a car.

In the Siddique murder case, Anmol is said to have told the accused: “Ram Ram bhai log. Aap sabko Lawrence bhai ne bhi Ram Ram bolne ko bola hai. Keep courage. Conduct recce in Bandra. After the job, each one will get a car, a flat and R5 lakh advance. We have to take revenge.”

Investigators say the killing was portrayed as revenge for the death of Anmol’s aide Anuj Thapan, who allegedly died by suicide in custody after being arrested in the Salman Khan firing case. Siddique was targeted due to his close ties with Khan.

Instagram burner accounts

Sources said Anmol used several burner Instagram accounts to monitor his network and stay in touch with key shooters such as Shubham Lonkar, who publicly claimed responsibility after the killing. These accounts were often verified with cloud-based OTP services, complicating tracing efforts.

Digital trail key evidence

Even though most chats vanished, investigators recovered fragments from seized phones, cloud backups and forensic clones, helping them reconstruct how the syndicate was run remotely.

These digital footprints now form a crucial part of the charge sheet, showing how the organised crime network was controlled “from thousands of miles away through layered social-media communication”.

Officials said Anmol’s use of auto-delete platforms and cloned accounts has already become a case study for cyber-intelligence teams tracking global organised crime syndicates.

11
No. days Anmol Bishnoi will be in the custody of the NIA

Source