A wanted Delhi man, Kunal Chhabra, who has been evading the law from Dubai, recorded multiple extortion calls from notorious criminal Lawrence Bishnoi, raising further concerns about the deep criminal nexus. The calls, dating back to May 2023, reveal Bishnoi, who is currently imprisoned in Gujarat’s Sabarmati jail, allegedly demanding money and making threats. These recordings, including an audio and video call, have surfaced as crucial evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Chhabra, a fugitive involved in multiple fraud cases, is reportedly part of an illegal call center racket, with the FBI also pursuing him for allegedly cheating American citizens. The videos, which are in possession of NDTV, show Bishnoi purportedly demanding ₹5 crore and threatening Chhabra over a perceived betrayal, claiming that Chhabra’s actions led to the arrest of 10 of his associates. Bishnoi is heard accusing Chhabra of bribing police officials, which Chhabra denied.
Chhabra filed a complaint about the extortion attempts on June 14, 2023. Although Bishnoi has been questioned by the police, there is no clear indication of the actions taken against him in relation to these threats.
The case escalated further on September 12, when Nadir Shah, a close associate of Chhabra, was shot dead in Greater Kailash-1, Delhi. Shah, a gym owner, was allegedly killed on Bishnoi’s orders as a warning to Chhabra for defaulting on the extortion payment. CCTV footage showed a man firing multiple rounds at Shah, who succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
Kunal Chhabra, described as a key figure in illegal call centers that defraud American citizens, faces a non-bailable warrant in India. Delhi Police’s IFS unit has raided several of Chhabra’s illegal operations, leading to the arrest of 12 people. In addition to his criminal activities in India, the FBI has been tracking Chhabra’s involvement in large-scale fraud schemes targeting the U.S. public.
Chhabra’s illegal earnings, reportedly worth hundreds of crores, have also attracted the attention of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and action is being sought under India’s anti-money laundering laws. Authorities are working on extraditing him to face trial in both India and the U.S.
As investigations continue, the police have intensified their efforts to apprehend Chhabra, who is evading arrest under an international lookout circular.
Sources By Agencies
