New Delhi: The Bihar police on Saturday arrested a man in Delhi for impersonating an associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and allegedly threatening independent MP Rajesh Ranjan, known as Pappu Yadav, PTI reported. The incident prompted a case to be filed in Purnea, Yadav’s constituency, after threats were reported on social media. Yadav got a call from a “Dubai number” and subsequently reached out to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, requesting increased security measures.
The Purnea Police traced the threatening call back to Delhi, leading to the arrest of a suspect named Mahesh Pandey. During interrogation, Pandey admitted to contacting the MP via WhatsApp using a SIM card borrowed from his wife’s sister residing in the UAE.
Authorities have confiscated the mobile phone and SIM card used for the alleged threat. It is reported that Pandey made the call following Yadav’s public criticisms of Bishnoi, especially after the murder of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique.
Caller angered by social media comments
Yadav said that the caller was angered by his social media remarks directed at Bishnoi, who is currently jailed in Gujarat. Officials said that the suspect found Yadav’s contact information through an online search and clarified that no connections to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang have been confirmed at this time.
After the assassination of Siddique by members of Bishnoi’s gang, Yadav had vowed to dismantle the entire criminal network within 24 hours, provided he had legal backing. Apart from that, Yadav expressed support for Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who is allegedly targeted by Bishnoi’s gang due to his involvement in the death of a blackbuck, an animal revered by the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan.
Wife distances herself from husband’s comments
In response to her husband’s controversial statements, Yadav’s wif Ranjeet Ranjan a Congress MP in the Rajya Sabha, sought to distance herself and their family from his comments. She said that they have separate political paths and have been living apart for over a year, urging the government to address the “law and order” situation.
