Extortion syndicates based abroad behind firing incidents in Maharashtra: CM Fadnavis

Mumbai: Organised extortion syndicates operating from abroad are behind firing incidents in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday after the Opposition demanded a probe into these cases and gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's alleged role in them.

Addressing the state assembly, Fadnavis stated the Centre is making efforts to bring back persons who are part of criminal syndicates operating from foreign countries and are using VPNs and virtual numbers to orchestrate threats.

He was responding to questions from Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, supplemented by Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh, on the recent firing incidents in the state.


Read more: Why did a Delhi court discharge Lawrence Bishnoi in a ₹1 crore extortion case?

"They threaten several people. If someone refuses to pay, they ask local criminals to fire outside the person's home or shop. Their objective is to terrorise people so that they pay extortion money. These are not very powerful people; they are sitting abroad and trying to extort money by creating fear," the chief minister said.

Investigations into the recent firing incidents had established that the shooters were hired using money sent from outside India, he said, assuring the House that the government would identify and act against all those involved.

"There is also rivalry between Lawrence Bishnoi and Rohit Godara, both trying to establish dominance. We will trace them as well. These extortion gangs and organised crime syndicates will be completely dismantled," Fadnavis said.

Citizens receiving extortion threats must not panic, he said, noting that defeating such gangs also required breaking the fear they sought to create.

Raising the issue during the Question Hour, Wadettiwar demanded a thorough probe into the conspiracy behind the attacks and said that if jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi had any role, it should be investigated.

He said innocent people should not lose their lives because of gang rivalries and questioned whether the government would permanently eliminate the networks behind such crimes.

The Congress leader further pointed out that repeated police protection for people under threat was placing an additional burden on the force and public resources, and urged the government to "go to the root" of the problem instead of merely providing security.

Opposition MLA Shaikh asked whether the government would constitute a dedicated team or task force to eliminate organised gangs that extort lakhs of rupees from businessmen and use firing incidents to spread fear.

Fadnavis said the government was already taking action and would intensify its efforts wherever necessary, and stated that the issue had also been taken up with the Centre, as many of those directing the criminal networks were operating from abroad.

"We have informed the Central government, which is also making efforts to bring back those operating these criminal networks from foreign countries. We will ensure complete action against them," he said.

Earlier, Wadettiwar said that incidents of extortion, death threats and firing linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang were increasing in the state, raising concerns over the law and order situation.

He cited the recent firing at a furniture trader's shop in Pimpri-Chinchwad, claiming that the Bishnoi gang had taken responsibility for the attack through a social media post.

The Congress leader asked how the gang continued to operate in Maharashtra despite Bishnoi being lodged in a Gujarat prison. He also sought details of action taken by the police to dismantle the gang's network.

Wadettiwar alleged that only four of the 12 accused in the Pimpri-Chinchwad case had been arrested, while eight remained absconding more than a month after the incident, calling it a failure of the investigation.

He further claimed that threats to public figures, the killing of a former minister, attacks on traders and other such incidents reflected the growing influence of the gang.

The government cannot evade responsibility by citing the accused's presence abroad or their alleged use of VPNs, he said, demanding strict action against fugitive accused Shubham Lonkar, and the entire Bishnoi gang network.

Read more: Maharashtra: Farmer shocked after PM-Kisan SMS shows 1 paisa; government cites glitch

To this, Fadnavis said the gang had adopted a new modus operandi by issuing threats and hiring local criminals to fire near the residences or offices of targets to create fear.

Police had acted against the hired shooters and were continuing efforts to dismantle the gang, he said, adding that internal rivalry had emerged within the gang and assured the House that the police would continue taking stringent action against its members.