Mohali: A Kharar-based coal trader has allegedly received a Rs 5 crore extortion demand and death threats from a caller claiming to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, prompting police to investigate whether the caller has genuine gang links or is merely using its name to intimidate him.DSP Kharar Ishan Singla said a case had been registered on the complaint. “The complainant stated that the extortionist identified himself as a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The claim is being investigated,” he said.According to complainant Sukhpal Singh Khippal, a Sunny Enclave resident, he received a WhatsApp call from a foreign number around 4.30pm on Sept 11. The caller allegedly invoked the Lawrence gang, mentioned Mandy Randhawa alias Mandeep Kaur and demanded Rs 5 crore, threatening to kill Khippal and his family if he failed to pay. Another call allegedly came from the same number around 9.45pm.City Kharar police registered a case under Section 308(2) of BNS. Investigators are analysing the calls, the foreign number and the caller’s possible affiliations.The threat has also brought an earlier case involving Khippal under the scanner. He is facing a case related to a July 13 incident in which acid was allegedly poured on Mandy Randhawa’s Thar parked at SBP Society. Police are examining whether the two cases are linked.The case comes amid a string of extortion threats reported from Mohali and adjoining areas in which callers allegedly invoked gangster groups.In May this year, Kharar businessman Lavpreet Singh allegedly received a Rs 2 crore demand in the Lawrence gang’s name, while Mohali businessman Gurinder Singh was allegedly threatened for Rs 10 crore in Aug 2025. A property dealer allegedly received a Rs 50 lakh demand in Jan 2025.Earlier this month, four suspects were arrested following firing incidents at the houses of three Mohali businessmen who had allegedly received extortion demands of Rs 5 crore each. Police claimed the accused had links with the Lawrence gang.Singers have also faced threats. Dilnoor, an associate of B Praak, allegedly received a Rs 10 crore threat in Jan this year, while bhajan singer Hansraj Raghuvanshi was allegedly threatened for Rs 15 lakh in Oct 2025. Investigation in the latter case reportedly revealed that the accused was one of his followers.Police have previously encountered criminals allegedly invoking notorious gangsters without actually being linked to them. In April 2025, the AGTF arrested a suspect who allegedly demanded Rs 1 crore from a Mohali businessman while taking Goldy Brar’s brother’s name.Investigators are now trying to establish the caller’s identity, the origin of the number and whether the latest threat has any genuine organised-gang link.
