In a significant breakthrough, the Sri Ganganagar police in Rajasthan have claimed to have busted a major interstate extortion racket with connections to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The crackdown, which followed the interception of a vehicle carrying a massive cash haul, has exposed a sophisticated network operating from Jodhpur to Punjab.
The Interception That Led to the Unraveling
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a police team intercepted a car on Sri Vijaynagar Road on the night of December 29. The vehicle, owned by a local tailor, was being driven by three individuals who could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the large sum of money in their possession. A subsequent search led to the recovery of Rs 91 lakh in cash from three bags inside the car.
Four people were subsequently arrested in connection with the case. They have been identified as Kuldeep Kumar (50), Aman Kumar (20), Ramswaroop (38), and Manish Bishnoi. Police indicated that two more arrests were imminent. The initial questioning of the arrested individuals yielded significant revelations, prompting senior police officers from Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jodhpur, and Bikaner to converge and join the expanding investigation.
First-Ever Money Trail to the Bishnoi Gang
Superintendent of Police Amrita Duhan stated that this marks the first instance where the Rajasthan Police have successfully tracked a money trail directly back to the Bishnoi gang. "Earlier, gang members were arrested for shootings or threats, but this is the first time the police have successfully reached and disrupted the money trail," she explained.
According to the police, the seized money was being sent to Raisinghnagar and was further destined for Punjab, with the three men acting as couriers. As the probe widened, authorities rounded up several suspects from both Punjab and Rajasthan. The investigation became so intensive that entry to the Raisinghnagar police station was restricted as officers from multiple units descended on the location.
Network of Operatives and Cryptocurrency Links
The interrogation of suspect Kuldeep Kumar revealed that he was traveling to Jodhpur on the instructions of his son, Yogesh. Yogesh, who has since been detained, was allegedly acting on the directions of Sahil Bishnoi, a resident of Abohar in Punjab. Police claim that Sahil Bishnoi had links with Arzoo Bishnoi, a close aide of Lawrence Bishnoi, whom he had met through his cousin Akshay. Notably, neither Kuldeep nor Yogesh had any prior criminal record.
Investigators have identified Sahil Bishnoi, Akshay Kumar, and Arzoo Bishnoi as key operatives of the gang and anticipate further raids and seizures in the coming days. The police also revealed that the gang utilized USDT cryptocurrency to move funds through channels in Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, and Haryana. The modus operandi involved opening mule accounts in the names of unsuspecting individuals to buy and sell USDT, which was later converted into cash.
Police said the extortion network involved gang members, some operating from abroad, who would threaten businessmen and extort crores of rupees. Other agencies, including the Income Tax Department, are expected to join the questioning to probe the financial dimensions of the racket thoroughly.
