A man from Haryana has been arrested by Navi Mumbai police for allegedly surveying actor Salman Khan’s farmhouse in Panvel last February.
The police registered an FIR on April 24, reporting a conspiracy to attack the actor at his farmhouse. This marks the second attempt following a shooting incident outside his Bandra residence on April 14. The charge sheet reveals that the accused was offered ₹25 lakh to execute the attack, with plans to acquire weapons from Pakistan.
Tip-off and Arrests
The plot was disrupted when senior inspector Nitin Thakare received a tip-off about the suspects’ activities, leading to the arrest of five individuals involved in the case. The main accused, identified as Sukhbir Balbir Singh, alias Sukha, was allegedly an arms supplier who aimed to connect with a Pakistan-based contact named Dogar for arms procurement.
Navi Mumbai police had been searching for Sukha, eventually locating him at a hotel in Panipat, where he had changed his appearance by growing his hair and beard. Investigations indicated that 16 to 17 people were involved in the recce operation in Panvel. In June, the police arrested four individuals linked to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi: Dhananjay Tapesingh (alias Ajay Kashyap), Gaurav Bhatia (alias Nahvi), Vapsi Khan (alias Waseem Chikna), and Rizwan Khan.
Gang’s Contract and Weaponry
According to the chargesheet against the five accused, the Bishnoi gang placed a ₹25 lakh contract on Salman Khan’s life, planning to execute the attack either during a film shoot or when the actor left his Panvel farmhouse. The conspiracy is believed to have developed between August 2023 and April 2024, with intentions to procure advanced weapons from Pakistan, including AK-47s, AK-92s, M16 rifles, and the Turkey-made Zigana pistol, which was used in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.
The gang reportedly communicated through a WhatsApp group comprising 15-16 members, including Bishnoi’s brother Anmol Bishnoi, Goldy Brar, Kashyap, Bhatia, Cheena, and Javed Khan. The Navi Mumbai police identified Sukha and Dogar from Pakistan as the arms suppliers. The plan also included heightened surveillance, with around 60 to 70 individuals monitoring Khan’s movements, as noted in the chargesheet.
Why Salman Khan Is Under The Radar?
Salman Khan has been under threat from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is thought to be involved in both the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai incidents. Bishnoi claims his targeting of Salman Khan originates from a 1998 incident when the actor shot blackbucks, which are sacred to the Bishnoi community, during a film shoot in Rajasthan.