NJaipur: In a puzzling turn of events, a two-storey house allegedly owned by fugitive gangster Rohit Godara was demolished by unknown persons in the early hours of Tuesday in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district.The incident, in the Tejana Dhani locality near Lunkaransar town, occurred just days after Godara was named in a US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) chargesheet related to a transnational criminal network. The chargesheet followed a multinational crackdown on India-based crime syndicates carried out jointly by the FBI, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and European law-enforcement agencies.Local authorities denied any involvement in the demolition. Pictures from the site showed significant destruction, with the rear of the house completely flattened and the front portion suffering damage to walls, doors and windows. Eyewitnesses reported a large gathering of villagers at the site, perplexed by the absence of any official explanation for the demolition.When queried, local authorities indicated willingness to investigate the incident if Godara’s family files a formal complaint.“We have no clue who carried out the demolition. If a formal complaint is lodged, action will be taken as per the law,” Bikaner superintendent of police Mridul Kachachawa said.Tuesday’s demolition coincides with mounting legal troubles for Godara’s family. His parents, 70-year-old Sant Das and 67-year-old Geeta, are in judicial custody following their arrest in connection with an extortion case linked to a shooting in May involving Congress functionary Rajendra Baberwal in Ratangarh town of Churu district.Police allege the couple aided the Godara gang financially.A native of Bikaner, Godara is among the country’s most wanted criminals and is believed to be running an organised crime syndicate linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar network from abroad. He has been linked to multiple cases of extortion and contract killings across various states, including Rajasthan.His inclusion last week in the FBI chargesheet, which also names jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and fugitive Goldy Brar, escalated scrutiny of his criminal activities, which extend far beyond Indian territory.Also under renewed focus is his alleged connection with the 2023 murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
