Maharashtra Congress MLA Sajid Khan Pathan has reportedly received a serious extortion threat from an individual claiming links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, with the caller allegedly demanding a payment of Rs 10 crore and issuing violent warnings if the demand was not met. The caller identified himself as Shubham Lonkar, a figure believed to be associated with several high-profile criminal cases, and invoked the killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique as a direct threat during the conversation.
According to an audio recording of the call accessed by India Today, Lonkar repeatedly intimidated Pathan, warning him that he could face the same fate as Baba Siddique, who was shot dead in 2024. During the exchange, the caller could be heard saying that just as Siddique had been eliminated, Pathan would be next if he failed to comply with the demand. The threatening tone of the conversation suggested an attempt to create fear by referencing past acts of violence linked to organised crime networks.
Lonkar reportedly instructed the Congress legislator to arrange the demanded sum within two days, making it clear that failure to do so would result in severe consequences. Pathan attempted to explain that he did not possess such a large amount of money and suggested that the caller may have mistaken him for someone else. However, the caller allegedly remained adamant, continuing to pressure the MLA and repeatedly invoking his alleged association with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to reinforce the threat.
The reference to Baba Siddique carried particular weight, as Siddique, who represented the Vandre West Assembly constituency, had been killed in a high-profile shooting that shocked Maharashtra’s political circles. By citing that incident, the caller appeared to be attempting psychological intimidation aimed at compelling compliance through fear.
Shubham Lonkar, the individual who allegedly made the threatening call, has been linked by investigators to multiple criminal incidents. Authorities consider him the alleged mastermind behind the shooting of Baba Siddique, while his brother, Praveen Lonkar, is said to have provided logistical assistance in the same case. In addition, Lonkar has been named as an accused in a firing incident that took place outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence on January 31.
Lonkar is currently reported to be absconding and remains under investigation in several cases. He was previously questioned by law enforcement agencies in connection with the firing outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s residence in 2024, though he was later released at that time. The latest threat against Pathan has raised fresh concerns about the continued influence of organised criminal networks and the risks faced by public representatives amid ongoing investigations into gang-related violence.
