Coloniser gets extortion calls from ‘Bishnoi’s aide’

A city-based coloniser, who had received extortion calls from callers posing themselves as gangsters Goldy Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi about a year ago seeking Rs 10 crore extortion from him, has now again received such calls allegedly from a caller posing himself as a close aide of Bishnoi. The alleged caller had threatened to kill the victim if the extortion money is not paid.

The coloniser is also a halqa convener of the BJP from Ludhiana. Earlier, the coloniser had got registered a case against the unidentified callers at the Sadar police station and now, he has filed another complaint at the station to seek action against the suspects. However, the FIR is yet to be registered by the police.

Talking to The Tribune here on Wednesday, coloniser Inder Singh said on Tuesday, he got calls on WhatsApp from some foreign numbers. When he picked up the call, the caller identified himself as a prominent member of the Lawrence Bishnoi group. The suspect categorically asked him to give extortion money, else he would kill him and his family members. The caller asked him for protection money but did not mention the amount as of now. He told him that they were aware about his business and everything. He told him not to make any excuses else he (caller) would send his men to eliminate him.

“I went to the Sadar police station and handed over a complaint to police officials. I asked for the complaint number but they did not give me the same. I request the Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, Kuldeep Singh Chahal, to verify the matter and also give me protection so that I and my family should not become a target of the gangsters,” the victim said.

He said he was given one gunman by the police last year but he also employed some private security guards for his security.

Inder revealed that on November 4, 2023, he had received extortion calls from callers posing themselves as gangster Goldy Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi, who demanded Rs 10 crore extortion money. On the basis of a complaint, on November 11, 2023, an FIR was registered against the unidentified callers.

A year has passed but the police had failed to act in the case despite the registration of a case.

SHO, Sadar, Inspector Harshveer Singh, said the complainant had come yesterday to register a complaint but his statement was yet to be recorded. Investigation on his complaint had already started and required action would be taken as per law. The SHO said the complainant was already having one gunman alloted by the Ludhiana police for his security.

Meanwhile, sources said the complainant was called by intelligence officials at their office for taking inputs about the calls and threats being received by him from the Bishnoi group. Officials had to give feedback to their seniors in Chandigarh in this regard.

“After the extortion calls received last year, I kept my mobile number off for months and started using a new number. But recently, I started using the old number and unfortunately, I started getting extortion calls again,” the victim said.