Salman Khan faces new death threat: ₹5 Cr ransom or temple apology demanded by Bishnoi gang

Bollywood actor Salman Khan has reportedly received a fresh death threat from an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, who demanded that Khan either apologize at a Bishnoi community temple for allegedly killing a black buck or pay ₹5 crore. The message was received by the Mumbai Police Traffic Control unit on Monday. Authorities have stated that the sender, claiming to be the brother of Lawrence Bishnoi, warned of consequences if Khan failed to comply. Police are currently verifying the identity of the sender and tracing the number from which the message was sent.

The threat message stated, “If Salman Khan wants to stay alive, he should go to our [Bishnoi community] temple and apologize or pay ₹5 crore. If he does not do so, we will kill him; our gang is still active.” Following this message, Mumbai Police have increased security around Khan’s Bandra (West) residence, Galaxy Apartments. Authorities are investigating the origin of the threat, analyzing possible links to Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently held on charges including attempted murder and extortion.

This is not the first time Salman Khan has been targeted by threats linked to the Bishnoi gang. In October, the Mumbai Traffic Police’s WhatsApp helpline received an anonymous message demanding ₹2 crore from the actor, which prompted a probe and led to the arrest of Azam Mohammed Mustafa, a resident of Bandra (East). Another similar message sent last month demanded ₹5 crore from Khan; the Mumbai Police arrested a man in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, for his alleged connection to that threat. The authorities are examining connections between these incidents to understand if they are part of an organized campaign.

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has reportedly issued multiple threats against Khan, belongs to the Bishnoi community, known for its reverence of black bucks. The community’s long-standing anger with Khan dates back to 1998, when the actor was accused of poaching black bucks while filming "Hum Saath Saath Hain" in Rajasthan. Over the years, legal battles, arrests, and subsequent acquittals in the case have continued to stir tensions between Khan and the Bishnoi community. Bishnoi, who has openly criticized Khan, is alleged to have orchestrated threats and plans against the actor in response to the poaching incident.

In April of this year, two unidentified individuals reportedly opened fire outside Khan's Galaxy Apartments residence in Bandra, further intensifying security concerns for the actor. Following that incident, and amid continued threats, Mumbai Police and other security agencies have taken extensive measures to safeguard Khan. In the wake of these latest threats, Mumbai Police have confirmed they are continuing their investigation into all recent messages and taking all necessary steps to ensure Khan’s safety while pursuing those involved.