A 45-year-old lower division clerk at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was arrested on Monday for allegedly sending extortion letters in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi to at least eight residents of Aligarh, demanding approximately Rs 2 crore in cryptocurrency, according to police.
Case Emerges After Complaints
The case came to light on June 6 when a doctor and a jeweller approached Aligarh Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun, claiming they had received threatening letters via post. The letters demanded 50,000 USD, equivalent to about Rs 50 lakh, and warned of severe consequences if the amount was not paid.
During the investigation, police discovered that similar letters had been sent on June 3 from the General Post Office (GPO) in Connaught Place, Delhi, to eight prominent individuals in Aligarh. A special team was formed to investigate the case in coordination with the postal department. Police teams travelled to Delhi, examined CCTV footage, checked hotel records, and sought assistance from Delhi Police.
Identification and Arrest
After analysing CCTV footage from the post office and using technical surveillance, investigators identified the suspect as Hasmat Hussain and arrested him from the Civil Lines area. Officers recovered the T-shirt and sling bag allegedly used while posting the letters, along with a fake Aadhaar card.
"All eight recipients were connected to AMU and included professors, doctors, alumni, and a member of the Old Boys' Association. The accused worked at the university and knew all the recipients. He was aware of their financial status and properties, which he allegedly used as the basis for the extortion demands," SSP Jadaun said.
Legal Action and Investigation
Following the complaints, six FIRs were registered at Civil Lines police station under Section 308(2) (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said Hussain told investigators that he traded in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies and had travelled to Delhi to post the letters. Investigators also recovered a mobile phone that allegedly showed cryptocurrency trading activity. Police suspect he used the fake Aadhaar card while travelling and staying in hotels to conceal his identity.
