Jamshedpur man arrested for ₹5 crore ransom threat against Salman Khan, linked to Lawrence Bishnoi gang

Mumbai Police have arrested a 24-year-old man from Jamshedpur, Hussain Shaikh, for sending a threatening message to Bollywood actor Salman Khan demanding a ransom of ₹5 crore. The threat, which was sent on October 18 via WhatsApp to the Mumbai Traffic Police’s control room, warned that Khan’s life was at risk if the ransom was not paid. The sender, claiming to be connected to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, stated that Khan would suffer a fate worse than that of NCP leader Baba Siddique, who was murdered in Bandra just days earlier.

Following the threat, Mumbai Police registered a case and immediately began an investigation. Shaikh, who works as a vegetable vendor in Jamshedpur, sent an apology on October 21, claiming the message was sent “by mistake.” Despite this, Mumbai Police continued their probe, tracing the sender’s location to Jamshedpur. With the assistance of local authorities, they arrested Shaikh, who had initially fled when questioned by police. He has been taken into custody and is being brought to Mumbai for further interrogation.

In a related development, a second message was received from a different number, also threatening Salman Khan’s life if the ransom demand was not met. This message was traced to a 17-year-old boy from Guwahati. Mumbai Police are currently investigating whether this individual has any ties to organized crime or if the threats were simply isolated incidents. Both the 17-year-old and Shaikh are being scrutinized for their social media activities to determine if they have any further connections to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has a history of targeting Salman Khan, with past incidents including a 2022 shooting outside his residence in Bandra. In March 2023, the gang’s associate, Goldy Brar, sent another threat to Khan via email. Following these incidents, and the most recent threats, Mumbai Police have upgraded Khan’s security to the Y+ category. The actor is now guarded by specially trained officers at all times.

Despite the heightened threats, Salman Khan has resumed his professional commitments. He returned to host Bigg Boss 18 and is currently shooting for his upcoming film Sikander. Sources close to the actor say that while his security has been increased, Khan is determined not to let these threats disrupt his work schedule. His team is taking all necessary precautions to ensure his safety during public appearances and filming.