Four held for impersonating gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, theatening bizman

Bengaluru: Three gangsters from UP were among four people arrested by Bengaluru police after a city-based businessman received a threat call. The caller had claimed he was Lawrence Bishnoi, the notorious gangster. 

The arrested are Mohammad Rafi, 34, from Mavalli in Bengaluru; Sheeshpal Singh alias Monty, 45, Amit Chaudhary, 42, and Vansh Sachdev, 24, all from Meerut. 

Investigations revealed that none of the men from UP was even remotely connected to Bishnoi, who is notorious for issuing death threats to actor Salman Khan and allegedly plotting the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. 

Police said that the Bengaluru-based businessman received a call on July 9. The caller claimed to be Bishnoi and demanded Rs 1 crore, failing which his son would be kidnapped. The scared businessman immediately approached the police. 

Teams were formed under the guidance of Joint Commissioner of Police (West) C Vamsi Krishna and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Hakay Akshay Machhindra. 

Rafi was the first to be arrested. Police later analysed call detail record and other technical probes to apprehend three others from Delhi. All have criminal antecedents and have been brought to Bengaluru on a transit warrant. 

According to police, there was a business transaction between Rafi and the complainant several years ago, which didn’t go as Rafi wanted, and some payment was pending. 

“Rafi had a debt amounting to some Rs 2 crore and was looking for money,” a police investigator said. 

Rafi masterminded the whole act when he went to Delhi for some court-related matters. He met Amit through some lawyers. 

After exchanging pleasantries, Rafi told Amit about the plan, and the latter offered a solution. Amit claimed that he knew people with a background in executing kidnaps, and Rafi could engage them to extort the Bengaluru businessman. 

“They then met the two others, and during one such evening when they were drinking in the lodge owned by Amit, they decided to impersonate Lawrence Bishnoi after watching videos and reels about him on social media,” an officer said. 

Following this, a call was made and the threat issued. Rafi also made logistical arrangements for the three.

“We have come to know that there was a country-made pistol brought by the three suspects in UP. It will be confiscated soon,” an officer said.