Four Arrested for Posing as Lawrence Bishnoi Gang Members, Demanding ₹30 Lakh from Mumbai Jeweller

Mumbai | Undercover Editor News Channel, February 25, 2026

Mumbai: In a swift and coordinated operation, Mumbai Police arrested four men for allegedly posing as members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and attempting to extort ₹30 lakh from a Borivali-based jeweller through threatening calls and messages. Police have confirmed that the accused have no connection with the actual Bishnoi gang.

The accused — Riyazuddin Bashir (29), Mohammad Fayaz Mansuri (27), Mohammad Ashraful (36), and Mohammad Arbaz Ansari (27) — are residents of Wasseypur in Jharkhand. They were apprehended late Tuesday night from different locations in Mahim, Bandra and Jogeshwari after police laid a trap to catch them red-handed.

Threats Referenced High-Profile Killing

According to investigators, the jewellery store first received a threatening message from an international number on February 18, demanding ₹30 lakh as “firauti” (ransom) in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The message warned that failure to pay would result in the jeweller meeting “the same fate as Baba Siddique,” referencing a recent high-profile killing.

The following day, the store received WhatsApp calls from another international number. The caller allegedly dared staff members to record the conversation while reiterating death threats and claiming that no one in Borivali would be able to save them. When the calls went unanswered later, fresh messages warned that the jeweller and his family would soon be gunned down.

Initially, the threats were not taken seriously. However, when new messages arrived on February 21 in the early hours of the morning, the store staff engaged with the caller, negotiating the amount and requesting bank details. Acting on the jeweller’s instructions, a police complaint was subsequently lodged.

Police Laid Trap

Mumbai Police devised a plan, asking the jeweller to pretend he was willing to pay in gold coins. When the accused arrived to collect the supposed payment, they were apprehended. Investigators later revealed that the suspects had been involved in similar extortion and threat cases registered in Vile Parle and DN Nagar, which have now been solved following their arrest.

Officials said the accused used internet-based international numbers to mask their identities and create panic by invoking the name of a notorious criminal syndicate.

Investigation Underway

Police are now probing whether the group is linked to a larger extortion racket targeting businessmen by exploiting fear associated with organised crime networks. Digital evidence, including call records and financial trails, is being examined.

Authorities have urged business owners not to ignore threat messages and to immediately inform police, assuring swift action against such criminal intimidation attempts.

Further investigation is underway.