Gujarat High Court Issues Notice On State Karni Sena Chief's Protection Plea Against Lawrence Bishnoi Gang

Gujarat's head of Rashtriya Kshatriya Karni Sena, Dr. Raj Shekhawat, has approached the High Court seeking police protection, citing apprehensions of threat to his life.

This move comes in light of the recent murder of Rajasthan's Karni Sena head, Sukhdev Gogamedi, who was fatally shot in Jaipur in December 2023. Dr. Shekhawat expressed concerns of being targeted by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

During the hearing, Shekhawat's counsel Ronith Joy submitted that despite positive threat perception reports forwarded from the Naroda police, Intelligence Bureau, and the city Police Commissioner's office to the State Home Department, there has been a lack of action from the authorities.

Justice Hasmukh D. Suthar inquired from the counsel as to how he was aware of the above reports. In response, the advocate stated that while the petitioner was not provided with copies of the reports, he had been informed by the concerned officers that positive reports had indeed been forwarded to the Home Department.

Consequently, the High Court issued notice to the state authorities, requesting the submission of the aforementioned reports for examination.

Notably, the chief of the said outfit Mr. Sukhdev Singh Gogamedi (deceased), was gunned down on 5.12.2023 by some gangsters at Jaipur, Rajasthan. Subsequently, in a show of solidarity, Shekhawat gave a speech expressing his desire that the perpetrators of such a heinous crime be booked in accordance with law and that the justice delivery mechanism expedite the entire process of punishing the perpetrators.

The plea filed by Shekwat highlights, "the rumour mill was that the perpetrators of the murder were members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang...That, the Petitioner being next in command is now targeted by the said gang and its members as is evident from the threats that are received by the Petitioner on a day-to-day basis on different modes like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook live, reels, phone calls, messages etc."

In his plea, Shekhawat claims his movements are being monitored, leading to apprehension of "staged accident".

The matter is now listed on April 18.

Appearance: Ronith Joy For The Applicant(S) No. 1

For The Respondent(S) No. 2,3,4Mr Bhargav Pandya, App For The Respondent(S) No. 1

Case No.: R/Special Criminal Application (Direction - Police Protection) No. 3250 Of 2024

Case Title: Raj @ Rajendrasingh Shravansingh Shekhawat Versus State Of Gujarat & Ors

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