The Navi Mumbai police have apprehended an accused wanted in connection with an alleged plot to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan, an official said.
The accused, Sukha, was apprehended from Panipat in Haryana, the official said on Wednesday (October 16). He will be produced before a court on Thursday (October 17) after being brought to Navi Mumbai, the police said.
Also Read: Firing at Salman Khan’s house: Planned by Bishnoi’s brother, executed by US-based gangster
In June this year, the police claimed to have uncovered a plot to target the actor on his way to his farmhouse near Panvel in Navi Mumbai. The development followed a firing outside his Bandra residence in Mumbai in April 2024.
Salman told police Bishnoi gang intended to kill him
Khan earlier this year told police that he believed the Lawrence Bishnoi gang carried out the firing at his residence with the intention to kill him and his family members.
The actor’s statement is part of the charge sheet filed by Mumbai police in a court in Mumbai in connection with the incident. Two unidentified persons tried to trespass into his farmhouse near Panvel using fake identities in January 2024, the actor had noted.
In 2022, a threat letter was found on a bench opposite his building, while in March 2023, they received an email threat from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Khan had told police.
Also Read: One gunman involved in firing outside Salman’s house is Bishnoi gang member: Report
According to the police, Lawrence Bishnoi and Sampat Nehra gangs had deployed around 60 to 70 members to monitor Khan’s movements as part of efforts to conduct recce at his Bandra residence, Panvel farmhouse, and film shooting locations.
Following specific information about the plot to kill Khan, a case was registered against several persons at Panvel Town police station on April 24.
Link to Baba Siddique’s murder
Shubham Lonkar, who seems to be emerging as one of the key conspirators in the high-profile murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique in Mumbai last week, had been questioned by the police after the firing incident outside Salman Khan’s residence in April.
However, he had been let off due to lack of evidence, said reports.
Also Read: Baba Siddique murder: How ‘Salman-hater’ Lawrence Bishnoi is calling shots from jail
In a Facebook post after Siddique’s murder (which was subsequently deleted and is being probed by the police for its authenticity), Shubham Lonkar allegedly claimed that Siddique was killed due to his links with mafia don Dawood Ibrahim, who he said was close to Salman Khan.
He also wrote that they did not have any enmity with anyone but “whoever helps Salman Khan and the Dawood gang, keep your accounts in order.
Why Bishnoi gang is after Salman
The Bishnoi gang wants to kill Salman for his alleged involvement in the killing of blackbucks in Jodhpur in 1998 during the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hain.
The Bishnoi community is upset with Salman because it considers blackbucks as sacred.
CM Eknath Shinde had said “we will finish Bishnoi”
On April 16, 2024, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Salman Khan and his father Salim Khan at their home a few days after a couple of gunmen fired shots outside the actor’s home in Bandra, Mumbai.
Also Read: 'We will finish Lawrence Bishnoi': Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde after meeting Salman Khan
Addressing journalists, Shinde had said, “The underworld has no place in Mumbai. We will finish this (Lawrence) Bishnoi so that no one dares to do such a thing.”
(With agency inputs)
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