Mumbai: Until recently, celebrity-spotters hoping to catch a glimpse of film stars would stake out Bandra Bandstand, Juhu or Film City in the suburbs. The hunt has now taken an unexpected turn to south Mumbai-to Courtroom No. 55, tucked away on the fifth floor of a building in the city civil and sessions court complex in Kala Ghoda.

For those tracking Bollywood's uneasy brush with the gangland network of Lawrence Bishnoi, this is the arena where the famous meet the infamous.

Presided over by special judge Satyanarayan Ramjivan Navandar, the court is hearing a cluster of cases linked to the Lawrence gang under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA). The list includes alleged firing outside actor Salman Khan's Bandra residence and filmmaker Rohit Shetty's home, and the murder of politician Baba Siddique who had ties with Bollywood's elite. If MCOCA is invoked in the attack on actor Tiger Shroff, that matter too could find its way here.

It was the Salman Khan case hearings that first brought the chamber into the spotlight. He is expected to appear as a key witness along with his brother, actor-producer Arbaaz. It was on the same building's fourth floor in Courtroom No 52 that Salman was sentenced to 5 years in jail for running over four people and killing one in 2002 (he was acquitted by Bombay high court). His repeated appearances over 2 years then drew large crowds.

Among regular visitors was Pranita Fulsagar from Pune who travelled four hours for every hearing. Now married to a cop and mother to twins, Fulsagar, 32, is hoping to see the actor in person again. "I have a book full of his pictures," she said. "I want him to live a full and happy life," she said.

Quiet courtrooms in the City Civil and Sessions Court complex have often been dramatically transformed during sensational trials into packed spaced filled with lawyers, litigants, court staff and curious onlookers. They make up a motley bunch. One frequent attendee at Salman’s last trial was a senior citizen from Bandra, who took notes with coloured pens and claimed he had been at the accident spot on the night of the incident. For the Salman Khan case of 2002, the day of the judgment in May 2015 was marked by special arrangements.

Entry to the fourth-floor courtroom was cordoned off, and people scaled the building opposite the court using water pipelines to catch a glimpse of Khan through the courtroom window. Court staff fear a repeat of the dangerous climb, this time a floor higher, when Khan arrives to depose in the MCOCA trial. Threats received by the actor from the Bishnoi network culminated in the firing outside his home on Apr 14, 2024 and triggered a major investigation into organised crime rackets operating across states.

The Baba Siddique case has added a graver dimension. Siddique was shot dead outside his son’s office in Bandra (E) on October 12, 2024. Police linked the murder to Bishnoi-led organised crime activity. The tone in court around such a case is sombre. Even in a room used to high-profile name-dropping, a murder trial changes the atmosphere. There is less whispering, more note-taking, and a constant reminder that behind every “sensational case” is a dead man, a grieving family and a prosecution required to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The Rohit Shetty case has added to the impression that Courtroom 55 is the place where cases involving alleged gang threats to Bollywood are heard. Now, with reports that the Tiger Shroff case may be tried under MCOCA, Courtroom No 55 could see another high-profile number. MCOCA cases are not routine assignments, they require allegations of organised crime activity, prior offences, continuing unlawful activity and sanction from the authorities.

If that threshold is crossed, Courtroom No 55 could be assigned with hearing more such remands. Yet despite the celebrity backdrop, everyday life inside 55 remains rooted in bureaucratic reality. Known for maintaining a strict, no-nonsense courtroom, Judge Navandar delivers sharp judicial remarks when police procedure falters.

When investigators recently faced difficulty securing physical custody of Anmol Bishnoi, the judge pulled up the Crime Branch for showing little effort and asked why video conferencing had not been used if transfer orders were stuck in red tape. In 55, celebrity, box-office success and gangster notoriety carry little weight if the paperwork is not in order.

Mumbai: Ten days after gunshots were fired outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty's residence in Juhu, actor Ranveer Singh was learnt to have received a threat accompanied by a demand for several crores.

Sources said the threat was sent as a WhatsApp voice note from an unidentified number to Singh's secretary. The sender claimed to be speaking on behalf of the Bishnoi gang.

Security around Singh's residence was increased after the voice note, said police sources.

In a related development, the managing committee of the Beau Monde residential tower in Prabhadevi approached the Dadar police station about the deployment of six armed private security guards without the permission of the society at the flat occupied by Singh and his actor wife Deepika Padukone. In a written communication, the society said suddenly now a uniformed police official was also seen stationed with the actors.

Though senior police officials remained tight-lipped on the extortion matter, sources said Singh was not an isolated target. Over the past 15 days, about a dozen Bollywood personalities are said to have received threatening calls from people who identified themselves as members of the Bishnoi gang. No complaint or FIR has been registered so far by any of the threatened celebrities.

The latest threat comes even as the crime branch is struggling to nab the unidentified shooter who fired five rounds outside Shetty's home last month.

On Feb 5, TOI was the first to report the surge in threat calls undert the headline ‘5 More Bollywood celebrities targeted by Lonkar: Cops'.

Investigators said that soon after the firing at Shetty's house, several Bollywood figures began receiving extortion calls. Most of them reportedly blocked unknown numbers or stopped answering unfamiliar calls altogether.

Even Singh's secretary is believed to have blocked unknown callers, which may have prompted the extortionist to send a voice note directly to the assistant's phone.

The growing menace of the Bishnoi gang — particularly after the firing outside Salman Khan's residence, the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique last year, and the attack on Shetty's house — has gripped Mumbai's film fraternity with fear, evoking memories of the 1990s and early 2000s when underworld influence, shootouts and threat calls were rampant.

At least nine teams of the crime branch are camping in Lucknow and adjoining towns in Uttar Pradesh to track down the shooter involved in the Shetty firing case. A police official told TOI that the shooter had been identified and digitally tracked to Lucknow, and efforts are underway to arrest him at the earliest.

Pune: The four people arrested from Dhayari and Karvenagar in connection with the firing at film director Rohit Shetty's house told police that Karvenagar's Shubham Lonkar paid them Rs. 40,000 to arrange the scooter used in the crime in the early hours of Sunday.

"Lonkar is using all his contacts in Pune city for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang," Pune Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar said.

Deputy commissioner of police (Zone III) Sambhaji Kadam told TOI, "We helped the Mumbai police to zero in on five men, but they arrested four of them after conducting an inquiry."

The Mumbai police arrested Swapnil Bandu Sakat (23), Siddharth Deepak Yenpure (19), Samarth Shivsharan Pomaji (19) and Aditya Gyaneshwar Gayaki (19), all residents of Dhayari and Karvenagar. "Yenpure took the scooter to Mumbai with another person. He bought the scooter from another man in Dhayari, but it was not transferred to his name. Thus, the scooter owner was also taken to Mumbai for probe," Kadam said.

"Yenpure met Lonkar, the prime suspect and a member of the Bishnoi gang, and the latter paid Rs. 40,000 to him and another person for the scooter. Lonkar made an online payment to them. The same scooter was used in the firing at Shetty's residence," he said.

One of the four men arrested from Pune is a peon of a private school. The others did odd jobs like selling vegetables and driving private vehicles. "None of the arrested youths has a crime record," DCP Kadam said.

"Lonkar and his arrested brother ran a dairy in Karvenagar. He is using his Pune contacts to get in touch with youngsters and use them in crimes in Mumbai and other cities. We are searching for Lonkar with the Mumbai police," he said.

The firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Juhu home on Sunday was a result of four months of meticulous planning that involved gangster Shubham Lonkar recruiting hired guns from Pune, arranging a getaway two-wheeler and transferring money to facilitate the operation.

These are some of the details that have emerged from the investigation after the swift arrest of five men accused of carrying out the firing.

However, it has now emerged that the Mumbai Crime Branch had picked up Lonkar for questioning after the firing outside actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence in 2024, but was let off later due to a lack of conclusive evidence, sources said. Lonkar is suspected to operate from abroad now.

Police sources said on Monday that Lonkar, whose name appeared in a threatening social media post claiming responsibility for Sunday’s firing incident, contacted two of the arrested suspects several months before the incident.

Lonkar reportedly instructed the gang to arrange a motorcycle for the operation and transferred money to them on three occasions to prepare for the preparation. Based on these findings, he has been named an accused in the case.

Sources said investigators have also established that the Facebook post claiming responsibility for the firing was uploaded by Lonkar himself. The post surfaced within minutes of the incident, spread rapidly across social media platforms, and was deleted shortly thereafter – a sequence police said closely matched the Bishnoi gang’s known modus operandi and was used also in the Baba Siddique murder and the Salman Khan firing cases.

The four accused who have been arrested – Swapnil Sakat, Samarth Pomaji, Siddharth Yenpure, and Aditya Gayaki – are residents of Karvenagar in Pune. Sources said Lonkar had earlier used youths from the same locality in the Baba Siddique murder as well, indicating a recurring recruitment pattern and a familiar support network.

Two months before the firing, Sakat and another arrested accused allegedly travelled to Mumbai on the motorcycle they had bought for the crime. Sources said the vehicle was later handed over to the shooter, strengthening suspicions that the Pune-based suspects were involved in providing logistical assistance.

Investigators have questioned Aman Marote, who had sold the motorcycle to the gang. However, he was released after it emerged that he had no prior knowledge about the bike being used in a criminal operation.

Crime Branch sources are further probing Lonkar’s suspected role in managing the Bishnoi gang’s operations along with Aarzu Bishnoi, Goldy Bishnoi, and Harry Boxer, following the reported split of Rohit Godara and Goldy Brar from the Lawrence Bishnoi group.

Investigators believe that after his release in the firing incident outside Salman’s home in 2024, he remained active and played a key role in major crimes, including the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique.

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Mumbai: The city crime branch is considering questioning gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is lodged in Sabarmati jail, as part of its probe into the firing at filmmaker Rohit Shetty's Juhu bungalow to ascertain the motive, even as it is still tracking down the shooter.

Shetty told police he had got no prior threat from Bishnoi's gang or his alleged gang member, Shubham Lonkar. Police are looking into whether Lonkar, who is absconding, acted without Bishnoi's knowledge. "Lonkar, who is from Pune, recruited only locals for the attack. It appears he is trying to assert his presence in Bollywood in the absence of senior gangsters, possibly to revive or expand an extortion network," said a senior police official.

Police said the four accomplices who were arrested within 12 hours of the firing—Swapnil Sakat (23), Siddharth Yenpure (20), Aditya Gaiki (19) and Samarth Pomaji (18)—provided logistical support and acted on Lonkar's directions. One of them is a collegian, while the others are unemployed. A fifth accused, Aman Marote (27) from Pune, has been served a notice. Police are looking for a sixth suspect who has been identified. Those in custody claimed they were unaware of the others' identities, including the shooter.

Marote told police he sold a scooter to Gaiki for Rs 30,000 about a month ago. Gaiki and Pomaji allegedly rode it to Mumbai and left it at a predetermined spot in Juhu, from where the shooter picked it up, fired five rounds at Shetty's residence, abandoned it 2km away, and fled. The probe shows the suspects came in contact with Lonkar on social media and he remotely coordinated the operation, including giving orders on procuring the scooter and its drop locations.

"Our focus is now on tracing the shooter, whose arrest could clarify who assigned the contract and the precise motive," an official said.

A team is tracing the IP address that Lonkar used to log into a Facebook account and claim responsibility for the firing. The post was deleted in a day. Police said there are similarities between the post and those issued after the Salman Khan firing and minister Baba Siddique's murder in 2024.

Another team is also looking into the financial trail based on the payments made to the suspects for the scooter's purchase and related expenses.

(With inputs from V Narayan)

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The Mumbai Anti-Extortion Cell has arrested four persons from Pune in connection with the firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Juhu. Police have also seized the two-wheeler used in the crime.

Investigators have established that the arrested accused were in contact with Shubham Lonkar, a resident of Akola and an alleged member of the Bishnoi gang, who police say masterminded the firing. Lonkar later claimed responsibility for the attack through social media posts.

He is also one of the accused in the Baba Siddique murder case. Police said one of the arrested accused, Swapnil Bandu Sakat, was in direct contact with Lonkar and actively involved in planning the incident.

- Swapnil Bandu Sakat, 23, unemployed, resident of Vadgaon, Pune. Police say he was in regular contact with Lonkar and helped plan the firing.

- Samarth Shivsharan Pomaji, 19, a college student and resident of Gulmohar Society, Dhayari, Pune. He allegedly helped arrange money to purchase weapons and the two-wheeler.

- Siddharth Deepak Yenpure, 19, a delivery executive and resident of Amrapali Society, Dhayari Phata, Pune. He allegedly helped collect funds and arrange the two-wheeler.

- Aditya Dnyaneshwar Gayaki, 19, a salesman and resident of Karve Nagar, Pune. Police say he purchased the two-wheeler for '30,000 and handed it over to the shooter.

A fifth accused, the shooter, is still absconding. Police teams are conducting searches to trace him.

According to police, Rohit Shetty returned to his residence at Shetty Tower, Juhu, around 10 pm on Saturday. At around 12.45 am, he was on the seventh floor having dinner with his family. Two bodyguards and two police personnel were present as part of his security detail.

CCTV footage showed a man standing outside the building. Security personnel initially mistook the sound of gunshots for firecrackers. However, footage later revealed the man carrying a pistol. Juhu police were alerted immediately, but the shooter fled on a two-wheeler.

Police said the accused reached the Tulip Star Hotel junction, where a police nakabandi was in place. He took a U-turn, rode towards Juhu Church, abandoned the vehicle there, and escaped in an autorickshaw.

During the investigation, police recovered the abandoned two-wheeler near Juhu Church. Details of the vehicle were shared with the Pune Crime Branch, which traced the original owner. The owner told police he had sold the vehicle for Rs 30,000 to Aditya Gayaki.

Police said bank transaction records show that all four accused contributed money for purchasing the vehicle and arranging arms for the shooter.

A police officer said the modus operandi was similar to the earlier firing incident outside actor Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments, in which the Bishnoi gang had also claimed responsibility. “Shubham Lonkar is the main conspirator in this case,” the officer said.

Shubham Lonkar is a resident of Akola who later shifted to Pune. Police said he was initially involved in farming and dairy-related work in Akola before allegedly entering arms supply networks.

He was arrested by Akola police in January 2024 in a weapons supply case and later released on bail. Lonkar was also named as an accused in the Baba Siddique murder case in October 2024 and was suspected in the earlier firing incident outside Salman Khan’s residence.

Police said Lonkar had expressed a desire to join the Indian Army but failed to clear the examination. Investigators claim he later came in contact with Bishnoi gang members in Rajasthan and became associated with the gang. Lonkar and the shooter remain absconding. Further investigation is ongoing.

Four gang members of the Bishnoi gang were arrested by the police for firing at Bollywood director Rohit Shetty’s Juhu residence at 12.42 am on Sunday. The accused, aged between 19 and 27, were arrested by the Pune police following information from their Mumbai counterparts, who tracked them down with the help of their scooter and CCTV cameras.

Police said unknown men arrived in a vehicle and fired five rounds outside the bungalow. One bullet reportedly smashed through the gallery glass. Officers tightened security at Shetty’s residence and seized CCTV footage from the area. Investigators spotted a vehicle in the footage and tracked its movement towards Pune, after which Mumbai Police alerted Pune Police.

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the firing outside Rohit Shetty’s Mumbai home, Shetty Tower. In a post, his men said the multiple gunshots were fired as a warning to the Singham director. This was not the first time the gang has targeted celebrities from the Hindi film industry. Past targets include superstar Salman Khan, AP Dhillon, Badshah, Kapil Sharma, and Munawar Faruqui.

A case was registered at Juhu police station, and the Crime Branch took over and formed 12 teams. Since Shetty did not report any earlier threat or complaint, officers said they were checking every angle. Acting on Mumbai Police inputs, Pune Police detained four men and handed them over to Mumbai Police, who brought them to the city on Sunday night and questioned them about their alleged role, the mastermind, and the motive. An officer said police will arrest them if the evidence matched. Those arrested were identified as Aditya Gyaneshwar Gayaki (19), Siddharth Deepak Yenpure (20), Samarth Shivsharan Pomaji (18), and Swapnil Bandu Sakat (23).

Meanwhile, a threatening message went viral from gang member Shubham Lonkar’s Facebook account, claiming the attack and warning Shetty. The post said this was just a trailer; the next bullets would be in his chest, and that his condition would be worse than Baba Siddique, who was gunned down by the Bishnoi gang in October 2024.

Police sources said technical analysis of the scooter’s movement patterns and related inputs led investigators to the Waraje area of Pune, from where the suspects were taken into custody for questioning. The men, who are said to be working as drivers and mechanics, are suspected to have helped arrange transport, shelter, and escape routes for the attackers.

Mumbai Police are treating the threat linked to the firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence as a high-risk organized crime act after investigators found striking similarities with the Bishnoi gang’s earlier modus operandi, sources said.

According to Crime Branch sources, the Bishnoi gang has a consistent pattern of claiming responsibility through social media posts immediately after an attack. The post is then widely circulated, screenshots are taken, and the original social media account is deleted shortly thereafter. This tactic makes it difficult for investigators to trace the original URL or determine the exact location from where the post was uploaded.

Sources said the same method was used during the firing outside actor Salman Khan’s residence and in the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique. In both cases, threatening posts were uploaded shortly after the incidents and the accounts were deleted soon after, erasing key digital trails.

In the Shetty case, police found that a threatening Facebook post claiming responsibility surfaced within 45 minutes of the firing and was deleted later, raising red flags. Shubham Lonkar is an unknown destination outside India and is suspected to be the mastermind. Rohit Shetty was on the sixth floor of his tower when the incident took place.

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Mumbai: Police are probing if the firing at filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s bungalow could be linked to his upcoming film projects. Shetty shares close ties with senior police officers and is often seen sharing the dais with them during programmes. He recently acquired the rights to former police commissioner Rakesh Maria’s book on the underworld.

Police have increased security around his residence. Police and forensic teams secured the premises to carry out a detailed examination.

The gunman was arrested along with three others from Pune. The four arrested men are: Swapnil Sakat (23), Siddharth Yenpure (20), Aditya Gayaki (19) and Samarth Pomaji (18). One is a college student and the others are unemployed. Police haven’t said who among them is the gunman. A fifth, Aman Marote (27), also from Pune, has been served a notice and will be called for questioning.

The firing was at 12.45 am on the first floor of Shetty Tower, Hasya Kalakar Mehmood Chowk, Juhu.

In a social media post, written in Hindi and English, gangster Shubham Lonkar, an associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, said: “Ram Ram, Jai Bajrang Bali, to all brothers. We, Shubham Lonkar, Aarzoo Bhishnoi, Hari Boxer, and Harman Shandu, take responsibility for the firing that took place today at film director Rohit Shetty's house (Shetty Tower) in Mumbai.”

It said: “We messaged him many times telling him not to interfere in our work, but he didn't understand. We've given him this small trailer. If he doesn't understand our message and doesn't listen to us, then the next bullet won't be fired outside his house, but inside his bedroom, right in his chest. And this is a warning to the entire Bollywood industry: mend your ways while you still have time, otherwise, your situation will be very bad.” Police said they are verifying the claim, given that Shetty is not known to have received threats.

Police said the suspect came on a bike from Pune (from where he left on Saturday), fired five rounds and abandoned his bike 2 km away. “The bike had a Pune registration. The rider was captured on CCTV near Shetty's home.”

The officer said the bike was not stolen and was owned by one of the suspects, and it is in custody of Crime Branch and Anti Extortion Cell. "The bike’s details led us to the suspects.”

The police said Shetty has three guards in the building. "The guards were inside the building, with one visiting the toilet. All rushed out on hearing bullet sounds. The bullets struck the first floor and the wall of the building. Shetty called the police," said a crime branch officer.

Pune is believed to be where the Bishnoi gang plotted the murder of NCP MLA Baba Siddique, in which police had arrested four suspects from Pune’s Karvenagar and Shivane areas, including Pravin, brother of Shubham Lonkar, who ran a dairy in Karvenagar.

A senior crime branch official said no direct link has been found yet between the Juhu firing case suspects and those arrested in the Siddiqui murder, though the angle is under investigation.

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After shots were fired outside actor Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments in 2024, a similar firing incident is now reported outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Juhu.

The incident took place around 12.40 am on Sunday at the 10-storey Shetty Tower, located at Hasya Kalakar Mahmood Chowk. An unidentified man allegedly fired five rounds at the building before fleeing the spot. The filmmaker, along with his family, was present at his residence when the firing occurred.

Following the incident, the Mumbai Crime Branch, with assistance from Juhu police and the Pune Crime Branch, detained five suspects from Pune in connection with the case.

According to police sources, the accused had purchased a two-wheeler in Pune a few days earlier. The vehicle was registered in another person’s name. The shooter allegedly conducted reconnaissance of the area and mapped out escape routes prior to the attack.

“At around 12.40 am, the accused arrived on the two-wheeler and parked it two buildings away from Rohit Shetty’s residence. He then walked to the spot and fired five rounds,” a police officer said.

“One bullet struck the safety glass of a balcony, two hit the wall on the first floor, and the remaining two hit the safety wall near the building entrance.” The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed in the building and nearby areas.

After firing, the accused fled on the two-wheeler. However, upon encountering a police nakabandi near the Tulip Star Hotel junction, he made a U-turn and escaped towards Juhu Church. Out of fear of being caught, he abandoned the vehicle near the church and boarded an autorickshaw. When the driver refused to go to Kalyan from Juhu, he was dropped at Juhu Chowpatty. He later changed autos, reached Santacruz station, travelled to Kalyan and eventually escaped to Pune by train, police said.

During the investigation, police examined multiple CCTV cameras but found only blurred footage of the accused parking the two-wheeler. The vehicle was seized from the spot. Using the registration number, police traced the original owner, who revealed that he had recently sold the vehicle to the shooter. Mumbai Crime Branch officials subsequently alerted the Pune Crime Branch, leading to the detention of five suspects from different locations in Pune.

- Aman Anand Marote, 27, resident of Karve Nagar

- Aditya Gnaneshwar Gayaki, 19, Karve Nagar

- Siddharth Deepak Yenpure, 20, Dhayari

- Samarth Shivsharan Pomaji, 18, Dhayari

- Swapnil Bandu Sakat, 23, Pune district

Police recovered five used bullet cartridges and sent them for forensic examination. Bullet impact marks have also been documented. 

A senior Crime Branch officer said Shetty had not received any threat calls or messages prior to the incident. “There is no record of threats or any ongoing dispute. He was not involved in any controversy. We are still trying to determine why his residence was targeted,” the officer said.

Following the firing, a social media post surfaced claiming responsibility in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Police said the post, which also carried threats aimed at the film industry, is currently being verified. No official confirmation has been made so far regarding the authenticity of the claim. 

Investigators are also examining whether the incident could be linked to the recent launch of a book on the Mumbai underworld by former police commissioner Rakesh Maria, an event attended by Shetty and actor Ajay Devgn. Police have not established any direct connection so far.

“This was not an attempt to kill the filmmaker,” a Crime Branch officer said. “It appears to be an act meant to intimidate. The motive behind the firing is still unclear and remains under investigation.”

Robust security, limited movement, and a singular priority—Salman Khan’s safety. That has been the producers’ common approach as the actor is juggling three projects, Sikandar, Bigg Boss 18, and a cameo in Singham Again, even as the shadow of threat looms large on him in the wake of Baba Siddique’s murder.

After the politician’s murder on October 12, Khan had reportedly conveyed to the makers of Sikandar and Bigg Boss that he would continue filming despite the threats made to his life by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Now, mid-day has learnt that the sets of the reality show and A R Murugadoss’ directorial venture have been built in close proximity at a suburban location, keeping the actor’s safety in mind. Not just that, even as Khan kicked off the shoot of his Singham Again cameo on October 22, filmmaker Rohit Shetty ensured that the set-up for the cop actioner was in the same venue.

Sources from the set told us that besides the Y+ security detail that has been given to Khan, the superstar has an additional 50 private security guards.

A source revealed, “The Singham Again set was highly secured, with almost 70 guards monitoring every movement on the floor. There were checks at every entry and exit point. Salman had a solo shoot, for which he reported at 10 pm and work went on till late at night. In fact, he was shooting for a Bigg Boss episode before reporting to Rohit’s set.” The actor—who reprises his Chulbul Pandey role in the Ajay Devgn-led film—is expected to shoot for one more day.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala is said to be ensuring that similar protocols are followed on the Sikandar set too. Another source told us, “Mobile phones have been banned from the premises. Surveillance cameras were put in place on both Sikandar and Singham Again’s sets to monitor the vicinity.”

Over the past few days, Khan has been filming an elaborate action sequence for Murugadoss’ action fare. On Tuesday, aided by the fact that the sets are only a few minutes away from each other, the superstar apparently reported to duty after wrapping up Singham Again’s shoot for the day.

“There was a chroma screen shoot. They have created the backdrop of a railway track against which Salman’s character fights an army of 35-40 baddies. He shot till 6.30 am before calling it a day.”

A cloud of fear is hanging over the shoot of some projects in Mumbai. A day after mid-day reported the safety protocols implemented on the sets of Salman Khan’s three projects (Producers go all out to secure Bhai, October 24), we have learnt that security measures have been heightened on the set of Munawar Faruqui’s upcoming show, Playground, as well. This development comes amid the looming threats from Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang, after Baba Siddique’s murder.

While the comedian has reportedly been provided police security in the wake of the Nationalist Congress Party leader’s assassination on October 12, we’ve heard that Amazon mini TV—which is backing the gaming reality show—also gave Faruqui a 40-member security detail. In addition, the Madh Island set, where the team has been shooting since early October, has been closed to outsiders. 

“Outsiders have been barred from entering the set. No one is allowed to meet Munawar without first furnishing their ID to the security team, as only cast and crew members are allowed to visit him. Most members are also living on the premises, thus minimizing the chances of new hands on deck. A security team of 10 has been deployed that mans the set on rotation, thus ensuring the safety of the entire unit,” says a source.

A fan meet-up with Faruqui was slated for the coming days. The source adds, “Keeping the current scenario in mind, it was cancelled.”

Putting an end to all speculations about actor Salman Khan’s cameo in Singham Again, the film’s team has confirmed that he will enter filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s cop universe with his popular character Chulbul Pandey from the Dabangg franchise.

Earlier, there were speculations that Khan might not shoot his cameo in the wake of the Nationalist Congress Party leader, Baba Siddique’s recent murder and the ongoing death threats against the actor by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. However, the Singham Again team confirmed the news and said, “Yes, he (Khan) is a part of the film and is shooting.”

A press note from the film’s PR team reads: “This mind-boggling collaboration of Salman Khan as Chulbul Pandey adds an exciting turn in the film and marks his entry to India’s first cinematic cop universe of Rohit Shetty. This unexpected crossover not only brings these two iconic characters together on screen for the first time, but also promises to bring an electrifying dynamic to the Singham franchise. Fans can look forward to the high-octane thrills as Salman portrays Chulbul Pandey, while Ajay Devgn returns as the fearless Bajirao Singham.”

Singham Again will also feature actors Akshay Kumar and Ranveer Singh, and newer additions like actors Kareena Kapoor Khan, Deepika Padukone and Jackie Shroff. The film also stars Arjun Kapoor in a negative role.

Veteran writer Salim Khan has clarified that his son, actor Salman Khan will not render any apology as demanded by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. In an interview with ABP Live, the 88-year-old revealed that Salman had told him that he hadn’t killed the blackbuck and that he was not even in the car when the incident took place.

Salim said that apologising for something he hasn’t done doesn’t make sense: “They are asking him to apologise. Kyun maange maafi? Has he done anything wrong? Maafi maangna, ye accept karna hai ki ‘maine maara hai’. Salman ne kabhi kisi jaanwar ko nahi maara. Humne kabhi kisi coackroach ko bhi nahi maara.”

After NCP leader Baba Siddique’s assassination on October 12, fresh threats were made against Salman, allegedly by members of the Bishnoi gang, and they demanded Rs. 5 crore. The matter is under investigation.

Actor-filmmaker Arbaaz Khan opened up about the shocking death of politician Baba Siddique for the first time at an event on Wednesday. Arbaaz’s brother, actor Salman Khan and the whole Khan family were quite close to the politician, who was gunned down in Mumbai on October 12 by three assailants.

Speaking at the event, the 57-year-old shared, “Baba Siddique sir was a close family friend and a loved person. Unke sath dekho aap hamesha Eid ke time pe puri industry jama hoti thi toh unke jaane ka bada afsos ho raha hai.”

Arbaaz also opened up about his brother Salman’s safety in a conversation with Zoom: “Of course, everyone [in the family] is worried... I wouldn’t say we are all okay right now, but we are trying to do what we can do best. We are ensuring that everybody, along with the government and the police, goes the way they should, and he’s (Salman) protected.”

Siddique’s assailants claimed to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, the one that allegedly fired shots outside Salman’s residence earlier this year.

While the investigation into the Baba Siddique case is ongoing, the shadow of threats looms large on Salman Khan. The superstar, however, has made it clear that his Sikandar shoot cannot be delayed. mid-day has learnt that the upcoming schedule of A R Murugadoss’s film will be shot next week. A key member from the actioner’s production team told us that while the last two schedules took place at SRPF Grounds in Mumbai, the makers have now chosen some new locations for the upcoming leg.

The knowledge of these venues will be restricted to only a few people to avoid security breach. The source reveals, “Earlier, the plan was to shoot in Hyderabad, but the team has decided to finish the Mumbai leg first. New locations are being zeroed in on for this stint. A week of robust shooting has been planned, where leading lady Rashmika Mandanna will can her portions with the superstar before she flies down south to finish her work on Pushpa 2 - The Rule.”

We hear Khan’s security, which had been beefed up to a 10 to 15-member team since April following a round of firing outside his Bandra residence, will now be doubled.

The source elaborates, “The number of security personnel will be increased, while that of people on set might be reduced. Intensive security measures—like thorough checking of people stepping on the set, and securing the venue—will be put into place. Salman doesn’t want the production to be halted.”

Siddique and Khan enjoyed a decades-long friendship, with the politician encouraging the actor to bury the hatchet with Shah Rukh Khan at his 2013 Iftar party. Even as the probe is underway, the Mumbai Crime Branch is considering the politician’s association with the superstar as the primary motive for his murder that took place on October 12. It is being viewed as a warning from Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang to anyone close to the superstar.

Actor Salman Khan’s security cover was beefed up after his close friend, Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique was shot dead by three assailants on October 12. Now, more layers have been added to his Y plus security amid aggressive threats from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

As per an India Today report, Khan’s security detail now includes an additional eight to ten armed police officers. The Mumbai Police has also set up a dedicated command centre for the actor’s residence, Galaxy Apartments. The eight-floor building now has 24/7 police patrols and AI surveillance cameras at all entrances to detect if an individual is recognised in the vicinity more than thrice. With barricades outside the building, unauthorised visits, gathering around the building or clicking selfies have been banned.

Khan is currently in the middle of shooting for his next film Sikandar, directed by AR Murugadoss, along with hosting a reality show. The actor had cancelled all shoots to attend Siddique’s funeral on Sunday, leading to speculation that the rest of his schedule might be affected. However, when we contacted the actor’s manager, he said this was “not true”.

A source close to the film confirmed that the actor’s security has been beefed up even on sets. “Salman sir always had security around him but lately additional 8-10 personnel have been added. They come for recce before he arrives. Abhi 1-2 din ka schedule aage peeche hua tha, but nothing major. If shooting was earlier expected to wrap up by December, it will now finish by January,” the insider said.

Tension between Khan and Bishnoi dates back to the 1998 Blackbuck shooting in Rajasthan. Since then, the gangster has demanded that the actor apologize for killing an animal that is sacred to the Bishnoi community.

With inputs from Yashika Mathur

- An additional layer has been added to Khan’s Y plus security detail. Khan’s movements are coordinated with local police stations to secure his destination before arrival

- AI-enabled security surveillance cameras installed at all entrances at Galaxy Apartment and all visitors to the building are thoroughly screened

- Barricades around the complex to prevent unauthorized entry or selfies with fans

- 24/7 police patrols and 60 plainclothes policemen stationed outside the building.

- Security around Khan’s farmhouse in Panvel has also been intensified

The Mumbai Crime Branch, investigating the murder of prominent politician Baba Siddique, has confirmed to mid-day that the motive behind Siddique’s killing was his close association with Bollywood star Salman Khan, who has been on the Bishnoi gang’s hit list since the blackbuck poaching case, in which Khan was the accused.

According to sources, Siddique’s murder is seen as a message from the Bishnoi gang to anyone close to the actor, particularly those offering him emotional or financial support. An officer confirmed that the recent shooting outside the house of Punjabi singer A P Dhillon in Canada, for which the Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility, was also a warning. Dhillon collaborated with Salman Khan to create a music video free of charge.

“Our investigation into Salman Khan’s firing case and now the murder of a political leader points toward the Bishnoi gang. The motive appears to be the actor’s close emotional and financial associations. The Canada shooting outside the singer’s house seems to stem from the same reason. We believe the gang is targeting everyone close to him,” a Mumbai police officer said. Mumbai police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar has conducted a series of marathon meetings.

“We admit that this is an intelligence failure, and it is being taken very, very seriously.  We will ensure that no such incidents happen in the future. We are currently assessing where exactly our intelligence system failed and how we missed any clues,” a top IPS officer from Mumbai police said on the condition of anonymity.

Sources have also revealed that the Crime Branch, Anti-Terrorist Cell, Special Branch, and the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) of Mumbai police have been tasked with gathering details on everyone closely associated with Salman Khan to prevent future attacks. The Crime Branch has also been instructed to identify the routes through which weapons are being smuggled into Mumbai, particularly how criminals are accessing firearms like the 9mm pistol used in Siddique’s killing.

“All necessary corrective measures will be taken, and we will ensure that gangsters have no foothold in the city,” the officer added.

A Crime Branch officer revealed, “We initially explored all possibilities, including an SRA dispute and business rivalry, but haven’t found anything substantial. We’re about 70 per cent sure the Salman Khan connection is the primary motive, given the Bishnoi gang’s history.” He added, “If the family presents other claims, like a dispute or rivalry, we’ll investigate those too.”

The Crime Branch is set to approach Baba Siddique’s family, including MLA Zeeshan Siddique, to determine if threats were made, especially from the Bishnoi gang. Shubham Lonkar later claimed on Facebook that the murder was revenge for Anuj Thapan’s death, accusing Siddique of ties to Dawood Ibrahim.