JAISALMER: The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Hanumangarh Police, the District Special Team (DST) and Pune Police have arrested three operatives linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang in connection with a Rs 50 crore extortion case involving a prominent steel businessman in Pune.The arrests were made during a three-day interstate operation conducted between July 6 and July 8 in coordination with a 100-member Pune Police team. The accused have been handed over to Pune Police for further investigation.Police recovered three foreign-made pistols, three magazines and 40 live cartridges from the accused.Hanumangarh Superintendent of Police Narendra Singh Meena said that on June 22, 2026, unidentified assailants opened indiscriminate fire at the office of H Vikas Steel Company in Pune’s Fursungi area after allegedly demanding ₹50 crore in extortion. A case was registered at Fursungi Police Station under Case No. 264/2026 under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act, following which an extensive technical and field investigation was launched.Considering the seriousness of the case and intelligence inputs indicating that the suspects were hiding in and around Hanumangarh, Pune Police dispatched a team led by an IPS officer, six inspectors and around 100 personnel to Rajasthan.Under the supervision of SP Narendra Singh Meena, the Hanumangarh DST and AGTF worked with Pune Police, leading to the successful execution of the interstate operation.During the investigation, police first arrested Pawan Bhatt (24), son of Prakash Ram Bhatt and a resident of ITI Basti, Hanumangarh Junction, on July 2. He was subsequently handed over to Pune Police.Based on Pawan’s interrogation and technical evidence, the joint teams conducted multiple raids and, on July 6, arrested another key accused, Ravi Kumar Suthar, son of Rajendra Kumar Suthar and a resident of Ghukkawali village in Haryana’s Sirsa district. Police said Ravi was one of the main shooters involved in the firing incident. A juvenile allegedly involved in assisting the accused was also detained.According to SP Meena, the recovered cache included three foreign-made pistols, three magazines and 40 live cartridges, highlighting the gang’s access to sophisticated illegal weapons.Police said the successful operation demonstrated strong interstate coordination between Rajasthan and Maharashtra Police. The accused have been taken to Pune for further investigation and court proceedings.According to investigators, Arju Bishnoi and Shubham Lonkar, associates of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed responsibility for the firing, which was allegedly carried out to intimidate the businessman after a ₹50 crore extortion demand. The investigation into the wider criminal network is continuing.
