Man arrested for throwing BKI-linked bombs (police)

The suspect, Sachin Taliyan, was apprehended early Tuesday morning while throwing bombs near two clubs at the bustling entertainment complex.

Taliyan, a resident of Chhur village in Meerut, allegedly confessed to working for Goldy Brar, a known associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, according to the first information report (FIR) filed in the case accessed by HT.

Brar is a known associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who works to raise funds for the BKI through extortion and acts of terror, according to police..

Taliyan was remanded in police custody for seven days as investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the network.

The attack is part of a new tactic by Brar and Bishnoi to sow fear and assert their dominance in Gurugram and Chandigarh, according to the FIR.

According to police, the attack is linked to another similar incident in Chandigarh on November 26, when unknown assailants threw explosives at two nightclubs: the Seville Bar and Lounge, owned by Punjabi singer Badshah, and the De Orra Club, owned by local businessmen. On November 29, police arrested two people after a brief encounter with Hisar in connection with the blast outside Chandigarh pubs. The suspects had criminal records and cases were registered against them in Haryana.

About two weeks before the bombing, pub operators in Gurugram’s Sector 29 reported receiving extortion threats via WhatsApp, demanding millions of rupees and a 30% stake in their businesses. After the operators contacted authorities, the police presence in the area was increased.

Despite an increased police presence following the threats, Taliyan targeted the Warehouse Club and the Human Club with crude bombs, damaging property and causing panic. He was arrested on the spot and police recovered a country-made weapon, two crude bombs and a mobile phone from his possession.

During the attack, Taliyan openly declared his allegiance to Brar, claiming it was retaliation for failure to comply with extortion demands, the FIR said.

“The defendant openly proclaimed his allegiance to Goldy Brar during the incident, claiming it was retaliation for failing to comply with Brar’s extortion demands. This confirms his association with the BKI and its terrorist financing activities,” read the complaint by head constable Anil Kumar of the Sector 17 crime unit.

An FIR was registered under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act at Sector 29 police station.

The explosion raised serious concerns about the involvement of organized crime in terrorist activities in the region, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated action against these elements.

Threat of extortion in sector 29

Sector 29, home to more than 35 pubs, bars and nightclubs, has become a target for criminal extortion. Investigators revealed that the gangs systematically demanded protection money and stakes in businesses as part of a calculated strategy to dominate the area, investigators close to the investigation said.

While many gang leaders, including Brar and Bishnoi, operate from prison or abroad, their networks continue to carry out criminal activities on their behalf.

Despite repeated threats, the operators of these establishments refused to comply, prompting the gang to intensify their tactics. “When the gang did not receive a positive response, they decided to intimidate the owners with violent actions, including the recent bomb attack,” said a senior police official associated with the investigation.

Business owners in the area have expressed concern over escalating violence, with one pub owner revealing the prevalence of protection money payments.

Pub owners revealed that over the past 20 days, police teams had been deployed around the clock outside the outlets, although it remained unclear which establishment had received the extortion threats.

“Many establishments in Gurugram are paying money to keep their operations running smoothly. While the gang leaders responsible for these claims are behind bars, their henchmen continue to collect on their behalf,” said one pub owner, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by organized crime in the city.