Bishnoi gang aimed to challenge Dawood’s hold in Mumbai, say police in Tiger Shroff firing probe

Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch believes the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was attempting to challenge the decades-old influence of Dawood Ibrahim and the D-Company in Mumbai as part of a larger plan to establish its own control over the city, officials investigating the firing near actor Tiger Shroff’s car have said.

According to investigators, the gang’s alleged objective was to create a climate of fear similar to the one associated with Mumbai’s underworld in the 1990s, when a single threatening call could unsettle businessmen, builders and film personalities. Police sources said the gang wanted to project itself as the new dominant force in the city’s criminal network.

A senior Mumbai Police official said establishing such dominance could help the gang expand its alleged extortion operations and demand money from builders and members of the Hindi film industry. Investigators believe the firing incident may have been intended to send a message and announce the gang’s presence in Mumbai.

The Crime Branch has so far arrested 12 people in connection with the attack on Tiger Shroff’s car. During the probe, officers reportedly recovered several audio clips in which alleged underworld figures were mentioned.

The recordings are being examined forensically as police try to establish the scale of the gang’s network and identify those allegedly involved in planning and carrying out criminal activities. Investigators are also analysing the evidence to determine whether the firing was part of a broader strategy to spread fear and challenge traditional underworld syndicates.

Police said a crackdown was underway to dismantle the alleged network and prevent further criminal activity. Further investigation in the case is continuing.

(Inputs from IANS)