Pune: In a significant breakthrough against organized crime, the Pune City Police have apprehended a 17-year-old minor allegedly linked to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The arrest comes in connection with a brazen extortion attempt involving a demand for ₹50 crore and a subsequent firing incident at a businessman's godown in Fursungi.

The Extortion Plot and Firing Incident

The ordeal began on June 22, when a prominent businessman in Mohammadwadi received a WhatsApp call from an individual identifying himself as Arzoo Bishnoi, an associate of the incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The caller demanded ₹5 crore each from the businessman and his nine business partners. Shortly after the digital threat, the situation escalated into physical violence when four bullets were fired at the businessman's warehouse on the Hadapsar-Saswad road, sparking terror in the industrial area.

Sophisticated Criminal Tactics

The investigation revealed that the perpetrators employed sophisticated methods to evade detection. The accused utilized international numbers and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to mask their digital footprints during the extortion calls. Following a multi-state manhunt spanning Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana, the police successfully tracked down the suspects.

Key Arrests and Recoveries

The police have arrested Pavan Prakashram Barad (24), Ravikumar Rajendrakumar Jangda (33), and Satyaprakash Kaluram Shilora (25). Shilora, an employee at the businessman's firm, allegedly acted as an insider, providing critical intelligence to the gang. The minor arrested from Rajasthan is suspected of being the arms supplier. Authorities seized three country-made pistols and over 30 live cartridges during the operations.

Broader Implications of Gang Activity

Law enforcement agencies are now investigating whether this syndicate is responsible for a string of recent extortion demands targeting chemists and textile merchants in the region. The involvement of a minor and the use of high-tech evasion tactics highlight the evolving and dangerous nature of gang-led organized crime in urban India.