Bishnoi gang extortion threat: Kolkata businessman alleges ₹5 crore demand
Synopsis
A Kolkata businessman has alleged that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang threatened him with death and demanded ₹5 crore via international calls — but police are yet to confirm whether the callers are genuine gang members or imposters. The case echoes a Mumbai incident where a Bishnoi impersonator targeted Kapil Sharma, raising questions about how widely the gang's feared name is being exploited for copycat extortion across India.
Key Takeaways
A Kolkata businessman filed an extortion complaint at Bhowanipur police station on 3 August , alleging demands of ₹5 crore from callers claiming to be the Bishnoi gang .
The first call was received on 30 June from an international number; threats to the businessman and his family followed over the next month.
The Special Unit of Kolkata Police is investigating whether the calls are genuinely from the Bishnoi network or from imposters.
A similar Mumbai case last year — involving an alleged ₹1 crore demand on comedian Kapil Sharma — found no actual link to the Bishnoi gang after arrest.
Lawrence Bishnoi , 33, is jailed in India but allegedly directs his transnational network from prison using smuggled phones.
A Kolkata-based businessman has filed a complaint with the Bhowanipur police station, alleging that he has been receiving extortion calls and voice messages from international numbers, with callers claiming to represent the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and demanding ₹5 crore. The complaint, received on 3 August, has prompted the Special Unit of Kolkata Police to launch a formal investigation.
The Alleged Threat
The businessman, a resident of Sharat Bose Road in Bhowanipore, told police that the first call arrived on 30 June from an international number. The caller identified himself as a member of the Bishnoi gang and demanded ₹5 crore. Over the following month, the businessman reportedly continued to receive calls and voice messages. He alleged that at one point, he and his family members were threatened with death if the money was not paid.
Police Response and Investigation
Officers at Bhowanipur police station registered the complaint after the businessman approached them in a state of panic. The Special Unit of Kolkata Police has been assigned to lead the investigation. Authorities have stated they are examining whether the calls genuinely originated from members of the Bishnoi criminal network or whether someone else is impersonating the gang to extort money.
A Pattern of Copycat Threats
This is not the first time the Bishnoi name has been invoked in extortion attempts without a verified link to the actual gang. Last year, Mumbai Police arrested an individual who had allegedly demanded ₹1 crore from comedian Kapil Sharma, claiming to represent Goldy Brar, a purported associate of Lawrence Bishnoi. Subsequent investigations, however, found no direct connection between the arrested person and the actual Bishnoi criminal network — a pattern that investigators in the Kolkata case are now keeping in mind.
Who Is the Bishnoi Gang?
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang is a transnational organised crime syndicate known for contract killings, extortion, and international drug trafficking. Lawrence Bishnoi, 33, is currently lodged in a maximum-security prison in India, from where he allegedly continues to direct operations using smuggled mobile phones. The network reportedly operates across India, Canada, the United States, and parts of Europe, relying on decentralised local cells and encrypted messaging applications.
What Happens Next
Investigators are working to trace the origin of the international numbers used in the calls. The outcome of the technical analysis will be critical in determining whether this is a genuine Bishnoi gang operation or an impersonation attempt. The case adds to a growing list of extortion complaints across Indian cities where the Bishnoi name has been weaponised — underscoring both the gang's fearsome reputation and the challenge it poses for law enforcement in distinguishing real threats from copycat crimes.
Point of View
Even by those with no real connection to it. Kolkata Police's first task is not just tracing the call but establishing authenticity; if it turns out to be another impersonation, it will reinforce a troubling trend of copycat extortion riding on the Bishnoi franchise. The harder question for law enforcement is systemic: as long as a jailed gangster can allegedly direct operations via smuggled phones from a maximum-security prison, the deterrence infrastructure is clearly broken.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kolkata Bishnoi gang extortion case?
A Kolkata businessman alleged that he received calls and voice messages from international numbers since 30 June, with callers claiming to be from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and demanding ₹5 crore. He approached Bhowanipur police station, and the Special Unit of Kolkata Police has launched an investigation.
Has it been confirmed that the Bishnoi gang is behind the calls?
No. Police have stated they are investigating whether the calls genuinely originated from Bishnoi gang members or whether someone is impersonating the gang. A similar case in Mumbai last year involved an impersonator with no verified link to the actual network.
Who is Lawrence Bishnoi?
Lawrence Bishnoi, 33, is a jailed Indian gangster who leads a transnational organised crime syndicate involved in contract killings, extortion, and drug trafficking. He reportedly directs operations from maximum-security prisons in India using smuggled mobile phones, with the network active across India, Canada, the US, and parts of Europe.
What happened in the Kapil Sharma extortion case linked to the Bishnoi gang?
Last year, Mumbai Police arrested an individual who had allegedly demanded ₹1 crore from comedian Kapil Sharma, claiming to represent Goldy Brar, an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi. Investigations found no direct link between the arrested person and the actual Bishnoi criminal network.
What is Kolkata Police doing about the complaint?
After the businessman filed his complaint at Bhowanipur police station, the Special Unit of Kolkata Police was assigned to investigate. Authorities are working to trace the source of the international numbers and verify whether the threat is genuine or an impersonation.
