4 held for posing as Lawrence Bishnoi aides, demanding Rs 30 lakh from Mumbai based jeweller

MUMBAI: Four men from Wasseypur in Jharkhand were arrested Tuesday night for threatening a Borivali-based jeweller by posing as Lawrence Bishnoi gang members and demanding Rs 30 lakh. They have no connection with Bishnoi gang. The accused had left threat calls and messages on the jewellery store's mobile number , warning that if money wasn't paid "the jeweller would meet the same fate as Baba Siddiqui."


The four accused have been identified as Riyazuddin Bashir, 29, Mohammad Fayaz Mansuri, 27, Mohammad Ashraful, 36, and ⁠Mohammad Arbaz Ansari , 27. The police laid a trap for the accused and asked the jeweller to pretend he would pay them gold coins. When the men arrived to collect the gold coins, they were held. The accused were held from different locations in Mahim, Bandra and Jogeshwari.



Police said the accused were involved in similar cases of extortion and threats at Vile Parle and DN Nagar which have solved with their arrest.

On Feb 18, the jewellery store's mobile number received a text from an internation number around 7.20 am. The text said, "Rs 30 lakh firauti tumko dena hai Lawrence Bishnoi giroh ko, agar manage na kiya toh jaise Baba Siddiqui ko mare hai, waisa hi tumko bhi maarenge..." Further, the text said that the money was to be arranged within 24 hours for Lawrence Bishnoi gang America, else the jeweller and his family would be gunned down. The store's staff conveyed the text to the owner.

Thereafter on Feb 19, a WhatsApp call was received on the store's mobile number. The call was made from an international number. The caller asked why money had not been arranged and dared the staff to record the conversation. The caller reiterated death threats and said "nobody from Borivali would be able to save them". The caller hung up. He called again sometime later, but the store staff did not answer. The store's mobile phone then received a text which said the jeweller would be gunned down soon. The staff informed the store owner but nobody took the threats seriously.

On Feb 21, fresh threats were received on the store's mobile number at 3.10 am. At this, the store staff replied that they can pay up Rs 1 lakh at the most and they dont want to get involved any further. At this, the caller responded over text that "Rs 10 lakh is used by kids for buying cigarettes" and the jeweller should be ready to pay with his life. The staff bargained with the caller and asked for his bank account details to pay Rs 4 lakh. He said he would get back the next day as it was late at night. The store owner then asked the staff to lodge a police complaint.