Kothrud, 5th November 2023: A troubling case of extortion has come to light in Kothrud, Pune, where a businessman found himself at the receiving end of menacing threats purportedly from Santosh Jadhav, an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang known for its activities in Punjab and Rajasthan. Pune Police’s crime branch swiftly took action, detaining two individuals linked to the incident.
The victim, a businessman involved in the supply of JCB machines, was subjected to an extortion attempt that led him to file a formal complaint with the Kothrud police station. The alarming phone call he received on a Saturday evening came from a caller who identified themselves as Santosh Jadhav and made reference to the Sidhu Moosewala murder case in Punjab. The caller demanded a hefty sum of Rs 15 lakh under explicit threats of harm if the demand was not met. Understandably shaken by the situation, the businessman wasted no time and reported the incident to the local police, prompting the filing of an FIR.
Pune Police’s Crime Branch sprung into action, initiating a comprehensive investigation with the aim of tracking down the culprits behind the extortion attempt. The probe included a technical tracing of the mobile number used for the threatening call, ultimately leading to the detention of the suspects on suspicion of involvement.
The connection between the extortionist Santosh Jadhav and the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang raises questions about the extent of the criminal network’s operations. Santosh Sunil Jadhav, a 28-year-old resident of Pokhari, Ambegaon, Pune, is a known criminal associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang based in Delhi. He had previously faced legal action under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MoCCA) by rural police, along with six other gang members. Currently incarcerated, Jadhav has a history of extortion activities in Narayangaon and was also implicated in the murder of Omkar alias Ranya Bankhele in Manchar.
After facing legal proceedings in Maharashtra, Jadhav expanded his criminal pursuits to Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan before establishing connections with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang hailing from Punjab. It is noteworthy that Jadhav and his associates were involved in an armed robbery in Ambala, Haryana.
As the investigation unfolds, updates will be provided to shed further light on this alarming incident.
