Ex-cop’s son held for demanding extortion money from club co-owner

Two days after low-intensity crude bomb blasts outside Seville Bar & Lounge, owned by rapper Badshah, and De’Orra, in Sector 26, Arjun Thakur, son of a former UT cop, has been arrested on extortion charges. The arrest followed a complaint by Nikhil Chaudhary, who owns a share in the De’Orra club, according to the FIR.

The police claimed the extortion case was not related to the twin blasts. Sources claimed Arjun too had a stake in the club business.

Nikhil, a resident of Nabha, Patiala, claimed that he owned 25 per cent share in a restaurant registered under Prestine Hospitality, Sector 26. He sold 10 per cent share to Tek Chand Singla of Patiala. Later, a dispute arose between them.

Nikhil has alleged that due to his business disputes with Singla, Arjun wanted him to transfer his share.

In his complaint made earlier this month, Nikhil further alleged that Thakur demanded Rs 50,000 per month and threatened that he would harm him (the complainant) if money was not paid. Nikhil reported the matter to the police earlier this month.

A case under Section 308(4) (extortion) of the BNS Act has been registered at the Sector 26 police station.

Arjun, son of a retired ASI, was accused of involvement in the 2018 firing case at a nightclub in Sector 26 during the birthday party of Sahdev Salaria, a former close aide of ex-BJP MP Kirron Kher. He was also arrested by the Punjab Police in 2023. The police had claimed to have busted an extortion racket backed by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi with the arrest of three operatives’, including Arjun.

Police sources said Arjun was also being questioned with regard to the twin blasts. He was produced before the court and the Judge sent him to two-day police remand.

Two low-intensity crude bomb blasts were carried out outside the two clubs on Monday by two suspects, who arrived there on a motorcycle around 3:15 am. The police are investigating whether the blast outside the De’Orra club was linked to some dispute among the club partners or to threats from some gang.

UT police probe financial dealings

The Chandigarh Police has also launched an investigation into the capital investment, financial dealings and ownership structure of the club. Sources indicated that the probe was triggered by the criminal backgrounds of certain people associated with the club, who were suspected to have links with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.