A partner of De'Orra club was arrested on Thursday for extortion two days after a low-intensity bomb exploded outside a bar-cum-lounge in Sector 26, Chandigarh, which is owned by rapper Badshah.
The arrested man, Arjun Thakur, was caught after a complaint from another club partner, Nikhil Chaudhary, a resident of Patiala.
In his complaint, Nikhil accused Arjun of demanding ₹50,000 a month, threatening to "harm him" if he didn't pay.
A case of extortion was filed against Arjun at Sector 26 police station. Police revealed that Thakur has a criminal record and is being questioned about the recent bomb blasts outside the clubs.
CCTV footage showed an unknown person throwing an object towards the lounge, followed by a smoke cloud. Sources mentioned that two suspects arrived on a motorcycle.
Thankfully, no one was injured in the explosion, but it did cause De'Orra's glass windows to shatter.
Earlier, two low-intensity explosions occurred outside a nightclub in Sector 26, Chandigarh, early on November 26, causing minor damage to property. The blasts, which took place between 2:30 am and 2:45 am, were allegedly carried out by two individuals on a motorcycle.
These explosions are believed to be connected to a previous extortion incident involving De'Orra club and Badshah's bar-cum-lounges, which were targeted by Arjun Thakur, a club partner arrested later for extortion (as reported earlier).
In a Facebook post, members of Lawrence Bishnoi's gang, including Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara, claimed responsibility for the blasts. The gang stated that the explosions targeted the De'orra Restaurant and Sevillee Bar & Lounge, both owned by rapper Badshah. According to their post, the gang had previously demanded extortion money from the owners but their demands were ignored, leading to the attack.
An FIR has been filed, and Chandigarh Police have launched an investigation. According to a worker at one of the clubs, Puran, although the club was closed, several staff members were inside at the time. They heard a loud noise around 3:15 am, and upon rushing outside, found shattered glass but no suspects.
The blasts, carried out by two people on a motorcycle, shattered windows and caused minor damage to the structure of both businesses, with nearby establishments also suffering some damage. The bomb detection squad and forensic experts were quickly called in to collect evidence, with initial reports suggesting the use of a homemade bomb. The exact nature of the device is still under investigation.
The explosions have raised concerns about safety, especially with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Chandigarh on December 3.
Goldy Brar, a prominent member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, had previously claimed responsibility for the murder of Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022 and was declared a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act earlier this year. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the blasts to identify the culprits and uncover their motives.
Also Read: Bishnoi gang claims responsibility for blasts in Chandigarh
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