Lawrence Bishnoi aide Hari Boxer detained in US, India moves to bring him back

Harichand Jat, alias Hari Boxer, an alleged key operative of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang wanted in multiple criminal cases, has been detained by US authorities in California following intelligence shared by Indian law-enforcement agencies. His detention marks a significant breakthrough in efforts to track the gang’s overseas operations, with Indian authorities now working to secure his return.

The detention followed intelligence inputs from the Delhi Police special cell and Haryana Special Task Force, NDTV reported on Saturday. Rajasthan Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) also coordinated with international agencies, leading to his detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Boxer, originally from Rajasthan’s Kotputli-Behror district, is wanted in 22 criminal cases registered between 2010 and February 2026, including attempted murder, extortion, organized crime and firearms offences, police said.

A former boxing coach in Jaipur, he allegedly became a prominent operative of the Lawrence Bishnoi-Rohit Godara network, coordinating extortion threats and weapons supplies while operating abroad.

Boxer fled India using his passport in April 2023 and allegedly continued coordinating extortion activities from overseas, police said. Investigators accused his network of targeting wealthy businessmen through messaging applications and VPN-based calls, threatening shootings against them or their families if they refused to pay.

Links to Bollywood threats

Boxer has also emerged in investigations involving threats against Bollywood personalities, including Salman Khan, Rohit Shetty and Ranveer Singh.

He allegedly claimed responsibility through social media for the firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Mumbai residence. His name has also surfaced in reports concerning the shooting at comedian Kapil Sharma’s cafe in Canada, although his precise involvement remains under investigation.

Mumbai Police separately investigated a threat against actor Tusshar Kapoor from someone claiming to be Boxer. However, police subsequently arrested a Bengaluru-based IT engineer on Tuesday, alleging that he had impersonated a Bishnoi gang associate.

International operation to track fugitive

Rajasthan Police initially traced his movements through Dubai and the Dominican Republic before receiving intelligence suggesting he was in Guyana. A provisional arrest request was sent to Guyanese authorities in February 2025, but Boxer subsequently travelled through Mexico and entered the United States using the illegal ‘donkey route’, police said.

An Interpol Red Corner Notice was issued on November 14, 2024, while the AGTF subsequently sent 14 references to authorities across approximately five countries, Hindustan Times reported.

Investigators also shared nine Interpol communications with US authorities between December 2024 and July 2026, followed by an updated dossier on August 19 and fingerprint records on October 29.

“Hari Boxer was operating criminal activities in India while staying abroad. Following sustained intelligence gathering, technical surveillance and coordination with international agencies, we succeeded in getting him detained in the US. The process of bringing him back to India is underway,” additional director general of police, Dinesh MN, said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation is expected to assist with international coordination. However, his detention does not automatically guarantee his return, which will depend on applicable US immigration procedures or extradition requirements.