Bollywood star Salman Khan has reportedly received a death threat linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, demanding ₹ 5 crore to "resolve the enmity." The threatening WhatsApp message, which was sent to the Mumbai Traffic Police, warned that failure to pay would lead to a fate worse than that of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddiqui, who was recently murdered, allegedly by members of the Bishnoi gang.
The message stated, “Do not take this lightly. If Salman Khan wishes to stay alive and end his conflict with Lawrence Bishnoi, he must pay ₹ 5 crore. If he fails to do so, his situation will be worse than that of Baba Siddiqui.”
In response to the threat, Mumbai Police are actively tracing the source of the message and have heightened security around Khan’s residence in Bandra. This comes as Khan has been on high alert due to previous threats. Recently, Navi Mumbai Police apprehended Sukha, a key member of the Bishnoi gang, in Haryana's Panipat. He is believed to be involved in a plot to assassinate Khan and had allegedly hired other gang members for the attack.
Sources indicate that Sukha was in direct communication with his handler, Dogar, based in Pakistan, coordinating plans for the attack using high-powered firearms, including AK-47s and M16s, smuggled from Pakistan.
Sukha's arrest is part of a larger investigation into the Bishnoi gang's conspiracy against Khan. Earlier this year, Navi Mumbai police registered a case against 18 gang members for planning to kill the actor. This followed an alarming incident in which gang members fired shots outside Khan’s residence.
High-profile members of the Bishnoi gang, including Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol, have been implicated in organized crime throughout North India, notorious for their threats and violent actions.
The police investigation has revealed that the Bishnoi gang deployed 60 to 70 operatives to track Khan's movements, conducting reconnaissance at his various locations, including his residence and shooting sites. The gang even attempted to recruit minors as sharpshooters.
This is not the first instance of death threats directed at Khan by the Bishnoi gang. In 2022, a threatening letter was found near his home, and earlier this year, he received an email allegedly from gang members. In January 2024, two individuals attempted to trespass into Khan's Panvel farmhouse with fake identities, prompting him to bolster security measures.
The recent threat comes in the wake of Siddique's murder, which was confirmed by Shubham Lonkar, suspected to be the key conspirator and linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The conflict between Khan and the gang dates back to the alleged hunting of blackbucks by Khan in 1998, with Lawrence Bishnoi vowing revenge due to the animal’s sacred status in his community.
Despite being incarcerated, Bishnoi has managed to orchestrate high-profile murders, including that of Punjabi singer Siddhu Moosewala, through his extensive criminal network.
In light of the current threats, Khan has been granted Y+ security, with a significant police presence outside his residence. The Mumbai Police have also installed AI-enabled, high-resolution CCTV cameras with facial recognition technology to enhance security measures.
