Bishnoi gang makes Rs10cr extortion call to Cong Akola MLA | India News
Akola: Two back-to-back extortion threats demanding Rs 10 crore from Congress’s Akola MLA and Rs 2 crore from Akot’s BJP leader allegedly linked to Bishnoi gangs have alerted law enforcement agencies. Akola West Congress MLA Sajid Khan received an extortion call demanding Rs 10 crore from Pathan Bishnoi gang associate Shubham Lonkar, police said. The MLA’s security has been beefed up following the threat. The development comes on the heels of a separate case in which Akot BJP city president Harish Tawari was allegedly threatened through the Signal messaging app.According to the police, Tawari first received a message on February 12 asking him to arrange Rs 2 crore by collecting it from Akot’s BJP MLA Prakash Varsakal. Based on Tawari’s complaint, a case has been registered at Akola’s Cyber Police Station. Investigators treated the message as a serious extortion threat and launched an investigation.MLA Sajid Khan Pathan allegedly received a phone call demanding Rs 10 crore. Police sources said the call was received around 3 pm on February 17, and the caller warned the MLA to pay within two days or face dire consequences.Investigators traced the origin of the call to California, USA.Following the threat, Pathan’s security has been beefed up and four armed policemen have been deployed for his security. After making the call, the MLA met Akola Superintendent of Police Archit Chandak and other senior officials and formally lodged a complaint. According to the police, Lankar is a resident of Nevri Budruk village in Akot taluk of Akola district. A BJP city office-bearer and a Congress MLA have been targeted by the same network, creating serious concern within the Akola police force.Who is Shubham Lankar?According to police records, Lankan had earlier claimed responsibility for the killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique and later for the shooting incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s house.Lankar was earlier arrested by the Akola police, who recovered three pistols and live cartridges from him. Investigators believe he was in touch with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his younger brother Anmol Bishnoi.According to the police, Lanka was the main operator of the arms-smuggling racket. In the same case, Akot police arrested three people on the charge of collecting firearms through him.Investigators also said Lonkar had been living in Pune’s Warje area for some time before absconding. He was later arrested from Pune and later released on bail.The police also claimed to have call recordings of conversations between Lonkar and Lawrence Bishnoi. Agencies believe Lonkar’s network extends to Dubai and other international criminal links. His house in Newari Budruk village has been locked for days.
