Indore trader receives extortion threats, callers claim links to Bishnoi gang

Indore: A real estate trader in South Tukoganj area received multiple extortion threats from callers claiming links to Lawrence Bishnoi gang, with the demand escalating to Rs 15 crore. Police have registered an FIR and initiated a probe into the calls and voice messages."The trader, Sanjay Jain, reported receiving four calls between March 16 and 20. Each time, he disconnected the call shortly after answering. Soon after, he received a voice message in which the sender identified himself as ‘Hary Boxer', claiming to be an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi, and threatened to kill him if the money was not paid," Additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya said.Officials said that the caller had initially demanded Rs 10 crore, but after Jain did not respond, a fresh voice note was sent raising the demand to Rs 15 crore. The threats were routed through phone calls followed by recorded messages, which are now being analysed.Dandotiya said that the complaint was first made to the crime branch, following which the case was marked to Tukoganj police for registration of an FIR. Police are currently tracing the origin of the mobile number used to send the threats and are examining technical evidence.Police station in-charge Jitendra Yadav confirmed that a case has been registered and efforts were underway to identify the accused.Jain, who is involved in large-scale real estate and builder projects and operates from an office in Tukoganj, has been provided security as a precautionary measure. Investigators are also verifying whether the threats were part of a larger pattern targeting businessmen.This was the third extortion demand, allegedly linked to Lawrence Bishnoi gang, in Indore division in the last couple of monthsOn Wednesday, Khargone police registered a case against alleged gangster Hari Boxer, who is said to be linked with Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and deployed forces after a firing incident at the residence of an organic cotton businessman Dilip Rathore in Bheelgaon village under Kasrawad police station area of Khargone district. Rathore and his son were sent videos of the incident and asked to pay Rs 10 crore.In February, Kishanganj police registered a case of extortion and criminal intimidation against a man identifying himself as Hari Boxer, who allegedly demanded Rs 5 crore from local businessman Mrinal Mewara in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.