The recent alert from US authorities regarding Anmol Bishnoi’s presence on American soil has prompted Mumbai Police to initiate extradition proceedings. Anmol, the younger brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, is accused of orchestrating several high-profile incidents, including a firing outside Bollywood star Salman Khan’s residence. With a National Investigation Agency (NIA) bounty of ₹10 lakh on his head, Anmol Bishnoi is believed to be moving between Canada and the US, managing activities on behalf of his brother and his gang, which is under increasing scrutiny by Indian authorities. This high-stakes situation raises questions about the financial methods that support such criminal enterprises and whether a cashless system could weaken them.

The Role of Cash in Facilitating Crime Networks

Criminal syndicates like the Bishnoi gang rely heavily on cash transactions to fund their operations, as cash is difficult to trace and allows criminals to avoid detection. Here’s how a cash-based economy plays into the hands of criminal networks and how going cashless could potentially disrupt these activities:

  1. Funding Extradition and Cross-Border Movements: The Bishnoi gang’s reach has extended internationally, with members like Anmol Bishnoi reportedly traveling between countries to avoid prosecution and continue their operations. Cash transactions can enable anonymous funding for such activities, allowing criminals to bribe officials or pay for travel without leaving a digital trail. In a cashless system, such payments would be traceable, increasing the risk of exposure and making it harder for criminals to operate under the radar.
  2. Untraceable Payments for Assassination and Instigation: The Bishnoi gang’s involvement in serious crimes, such as the attempt on Salman Khan’s life, is alleged to be motivated and funded by cash incentives. With digital payments, these activities would generate a clear money trail, linking key individuals to the instigation of violence and murder attempts, making it easier for law enforcement to track down the funders and masterminds.
  3. Hiding Illicit Wealth and Bribing Officials: Cash transactions allow criminal organizations to store wealth without banking records, making it easy to bribe officials to evade prosecution or extradition. A cashless framework would eliminate this method, as electronic payments are logged, making it difficult for criminal leaders to mask large financial movements or influence authorities.
  4. Supporting Operatives and Growing Network Influence: Syndicates like the Bishnoi gang require a steady cash flow to support operatives, fund violent activities, and expand their influence across regions. In the case of Anmol Bishnoi, who reportedly operates from abroad, the absence of cash could significantly limit his capacity to direct operations, as digital transfers would expose his financial transactions, rendering them visible to authorities in different countries.

How a Cashless Society Could Disrupt Organized Crime Operations

Transitioning to a cashless society could make it significantly harder for criminal organizations like the Bishnoi gang to continue their operations, forcing them to use more traceable forms of currency. Here’s how a cashless economy could be a solution:

  1. Increased Transparency in Financial Transactions: Digital payments would provide clear records of financial transactions, reducing the anonymity that criminal groups rely on. Every transaction would leave a digital footprint, enabling law enforcement to track suspicious activities, link operatives, and identify the sources of funds for organized crime.
  2. Dismantling Cross-Border Criminal Networks: The Bishnoi gang’s international operations thrive on untraceable cash flows that support Anmol’s alleged criminal network. By implementing a cashless framework, countries could cooperate to track and monitor cross-border transactions, making it more challenging for criminals to move funds internationally.
  3. Reduced Access to Funds for Criminal Recruitment and Operations: Cash incentives are often used to recruit new members into gangs, particularly young, vulnerable individuals who may be lured by the promise of easy money. By eliminating cash, recruitment strategies would become less attractive, as digital transactions would offer an additional layer of traceability that discourages impulsive recruitment.
  4. Preventing Large-Scale Crimes and Violent Attacks: The Bishnoi syndicate’s involvement in large-scale crimes, such as the attempt on Salman Khan’s life, is largely funded by untraceable cash. By moving towards a cashless society, authorities could prevent large-scale crimes by making it difficult for criminal organizations to pay for high-risk activities without exposing themselves.

Conclusion: Towards a Cashless Solution to Curb Organized Crime

The Bishnoi gang’s ongoing activities, both in India and abroad, illustrate the challenges of tackling organized crime in a cash-dependent economy. By adopting a cashless framework, society can create a hostile environment for criminal enterprises that rely on the anonymity and flexibility that cash provides. While going entirely cashless may be a gradual process, the transition would substantially weaken organized crime networks and improve safety by bringing transparency and accountability to financial transactions.

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