In a significant crackdown, the Sriganganagar police on Wednesday arrested four individuals suspected of being key players in the financial operations of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The police also seized a massive sum of Rs 91 lakh in cash, which officials confirmed was generated from ransom and extortion activities.
Routine Check Turns Into Major Bust
The breakthrough came during a routine police check late on Tuesday night near Bajuwala Chowk. Police teams had set up a picket as part of standard security protocols. According to SP Amrita Duhan, a suspicious SUV approaching the checkpoint was intercepted. Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered bags containing the large cache of cash.
The four accused have been identified as Kuldeep Kumar (50), his son Yogesh Kumar (32), Aman Kumar (20), and Ram Swarup (38). Investigations revealed that Kuldeep's nephew, Akshay, was the crucial link. Akshay was in contact with a person named Sahil, also known as Shanty, who works for Lawrence Bishnoi's close associate, Arzoo Bishnoi.
Unraveling the Gang's Financial Pipeline
Police stated that Akshay used his connection with Sahil to start working for Arzoo Bishnoi. The money collected from ransom and extortion on behalf of Arzoo and Lawrence Bishnoi was then channeled through Akshay to his uncle Kuldeep and cousin Yogesh. Their role was to forward the funds further within the gang's network.
The seized cash, which was being transported from Jodhpur, was intended for critical gang operations. "The cash was meant to fund weapons purchases, recruitment, training and the support of gang members who are on the run," SP Duhan explained. She added that while smaller amounts were distributed locally, the gang used USDT cryptocurrency to transfer larger funds to senior operatives living abroad, leveraging its peg to the US dollar for stability.
A Network Built on Clean Records
This operation marks the first major exposure of the gang's covert financial apparatus on such a scale. A striking aspect of the discovery is that none of the four arrested individuals have any prior criminal record. Police revealed this was a deliberate strategy by the gang.
"We learnt that this was the gang's modus operandi: to use a select group of backroom operatives with clean antecedents to collect and distribute cash generated through illicit activities," the SP said. This financial wing was kept separate from frontline criminal activities like surveillance or intimidation to maintain its secrecy and operational security.
The Sriganganagar police have stated that investigations are ongoing to trace the wider financial network of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and identify other key players involved in managing its illicit wealth.
