Bishnoi, aides used WhatsApp from Gujarat jail to extort victims: U.S. DoJ
The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi of using encrypted messaging apps from a high-security Indian prison to orchestrate extortion schemes against victims in the United States. Bishnoi's legal team has denied these claims, citing his 24/7 surveillance and restricted access to communication tools.
Why it matters
This case highlights the challenges of international law enforcement in managing transnational organized crime facilitated by encrypted digital platforms.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) said on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) that Lawrence Bishnoi, a Punjab-born gangster currently lodged in a high-security prison in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, used WhatsApp and other encrypted messaging applications as recently as December 2025 and January 2026 to allegedly extort and attempt to extort $5 million from victims in Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks in the U.S.
The article presents the DOJ's accusations alongside the defense's rebuttal, maintaining a balanced reporting style.
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