Bhopal/Khargone, April 3 (IANS) In a major breakthrough, the Khargone police have busted an extortion gang that was operating in the name of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang and had demanded a whopping ₹10 crore ransom from a family after firing at their house.
The police arrested 12 accused in the case, while six others remain at large.
The gang had targeted Satyendra Rathore and his father Dilip Rathore, residents of Bhilgaon under the Kasrawad police station area.
According to Superintendent of Police Ravindra Verma, the incident took place on March 17, 2026, when the complainant received threatening WhatsApp calls from an international number.
The caller, identifying himself as ‘Harry Boxer’ and claiming to be from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, took responsibility for firing at the victim’s house and demanded ₹10 crore, threatening to kill the family. He also sent a video of the firing incident.
A special police team was formed immediately. After 15 days of intensive investigation involving CCTV footage, technical surveillance, and intelligence inputs, the police cracked the case and arrested 12 members of the gang.
Investigation revealed that the conspiracy was hatched due to a pre-existing financial dispute between the complainant and the main accused — Lokendra Panwar (42) of Ujjain district and Sachin Patidar (36) of Dhar district.
The duo used the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to terrorise the family and extort money.
The arrested accused include Amit Kumar, Malkhan alias Vijendra, Shahrukh, Krishnapal alias Kenya, Ansh alias Anshu, Shiva, Hrithik alias Janjira, Rohit, Raja, and Kes Khan, hailing from Ujjain, Dewas, and Khargone districts.
Police have seized four pistols, ten cartridges, three cars, one motorcycle, and ten mobile phones worth approximately ₹44 lakh from the gang.
Superintendent of Police Ravindra Verma told media persons that the gang was posing as the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to spread fear and extort money. “We have successfully busted the module. Most of the arrested accused already have serious criminal cases of murder, robbery, kidnapping, and Arms Act violations against them. Further investigation is underway to nab the remaining absconding members,” he said.
The six absconding accused include Javed, Ravi, Rahul Baba, Kuldeep, Sandeep, and Harichand Jat alias Harry Boxer. Police officials added that the gang had conducted reconnaissance and made several failed attempts before successfully firing at the house on March 16 and recording the video for extortion.
–IANS
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