Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 12: Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal has allegedly received a death threat and an extortion demand of Rs 7 crore from a caller claiming to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, prompting the Punjab Police to register a case.
AAP MLA Jarnail Singh, who represents Delhi's Tilak Nagar constituency, said on Thursday that the caller had threatened to kill Kejriwal and his daughter, Harshita Kejriwal, if the demanded amount was not paid.
According to the complaint lodged with the Punjab Police in Mohali on November 6, the caller identified himself as a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and demanded Rs 7 crore as ransom. He allegedly threatened to eliminate Kejriwal and his daughter if the demand was not met.
Singh approached the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), SAS Nagar, and submitted a formal complaint seeking action against the caller. He also requested adequate security for Kejriwal and his family in view of the alleged threat.
Based on the complaint, the Punjab Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. The investigation has been assigned to Inspector Sunil Kumar of the Cyber Crime Police Station.
Police sources said investigators were examining call details, Internet Protocol (IP) logs and location data associated with the mobile number used to issue the threats to identify the caller and establish the authenticity of the alleged gang connection.
Kejriwal had also received a death threat in 2019 while serving as Delhi Chief Minister. His office had then received emails threatening to kill him, following which a complaint was lodged and the Delhi Police initiated an investigation.
The latest threat comes amid an intensified crackdown by the Punjab Police on gangster networks across the state. In a statewide operation conducted in coordination with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), police carried out 406 raids, arrested 87 people and apprehended two proclaimed offenders.
With these latest arrests, the total number of people arrested under the ongoing campaign has reached 83,529, according to the police.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has been linked to several threats and attacks targeting prominent personalities, including celebrities, singers, politicians and businessmen. Its alleged transnational network came under renewed scrutiny last month after three assailants opened fire at actor Tiger Shroff's car in Mumbai. Two alleged gang operatives subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack through social media posts.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has designated the network as the Lawrence Bishnoi Organized Crime Group (OCG).
In a related development, Harry Boxer, whose real name is Harichand Jat and who is allegedly associated with the Bishnoi gang, was detained by US authorities in California on November 7. His detention reportedly followed intelligence inputs shared by the Delhi Police Special Cell and the Haryana Special Task Force (STF).
Originally from the Bamsur area of Rajasthan's Kotputli-Behror district, Boxer is alleged to have played a significant role in operating the gang's extortion network from abroad.
He reportedly acquired the nickname 'Boxer' after learning the sport during his stay in Jaipur. He had initially prepared for competitive examinations and worked as a boxing coach before allegedly entering the criminal world.
Several criminal cases, including murder, attempted murder, assault, firing and extortion threats targeting businessmen, have been registered against him. His name has surfaced in cases across Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.