BHOPAL – Authorities in Madhya Pradesh’s capital have launched a high-level investigation after a local businessman was repeatedly threatened with a ₹10-crore (100 million) extortion demand. The perpetrator, claiming affiliation with the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang, warned of "grave consequences" and referenced high-profile assassinations to intimidate the victim.
The Extortion Calls
The victim, identified as Gaurav Jain, a resident of the Kolar Road area, first received an audio call via WhatsApp from an international number at approximately 10:30 PM on March 18, 2026. The caller identified himself as "Harry Boxer," an alleged operative of the Bishnoi syndicate. During the initial exchange, the suspect instructed Jain to prepare ₹10 crore and urged him to search his name on Google to verify his criminal credentials.
While Jain initially dismissed the call as a potential scam, the intimidation escalated on the morning of March 20. A second call from a foreign number saw the suspect turn aggressive, using abusive language and issuing a direct death threat after the businessman refused to comply with the demand.
Chilling References and Direct Threats
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the caller invoked the memory of previous gang-related violence to instill fear. The suspect reportedly told Jain, "My gang will kill you wherever you go, just like Baba Siddique," referring to the high-profile murder of the NCP leader. The caller further claimed that the businessman was being shadowed and threatened an armed assault if the ransom was not paid.
Following the receipt of several explicit and threatening audio messages, Jain approached the Kolar Road police station seeking immediate protection and legal action, citing a legitimate fear for his life.
Police Investigation and Security Concerns
The Bhopal police have officially registered an FIR and are currently tracking the call logs and digital footprints of the international numbers involved. This incident follows a similar extortion case reported in Indore, raising concerns about the potential expansion of organized crime networks within the state.
Cyber-cell experts and specialized units are now investigating whether the caller is a genuine member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang or a copycat criminal exploiting the syndicate's notoriety. Security has been tightened around the businessman as the investigation continues.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.