The Delhi High Court has directed the takedown of the teaser of the proposed movie Kala Hiran: The Battle For Legacy.’ The court told producer Amit Jani, “You can’t do this even to a common man. It cannot get worse than this even for a common man.”

The court added, “Either take them (the promotional material) off yourself, or I am going to direct you to do that with strong objections. Every minute it (the teaser) is in the public domain, it is harming the reputation of the plaintiff here. I was mild with you, but you are incorrigible.”

The film reportedly depicts Salman Khan and also portrays the 1998 alleged Black Buck poaching case pending against him.

Setting a 24-hour deadline, Justice Jyoti Singh stated she would order the removal of social media links to the teaser, along with interviews given by the producer regarding Khan and the film. She made it clear that if the producer fails to take down the material, the court will instruct major platforms, including YouTube and X, to step in and remove it.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Khan seeking the protection of his personality rights. The counsel for Jani argued that he had never claimed Khan acted in the film and had merely responded to questions during interviews. Jani maintained that the teaser neither names Khan nor uses deepfake or AI technology. He contended that there is no exclusive protection against depicting public events.

“This is only a teaser, how is his personality getting infringed by this?” he submitted. The court disagreed with the stand taken by the producer and said that this must stop. Justice Jyoti Singh said, “Reputation once lost is lost. You’re linking him (Salman Khan) with LB (Lawrence Bishnoi). I don’t want to name him.”

Chandrima Mitra and Parag Khandhar from Khan’s legal team tells us, “(An) order is awaited. The court said on Monday morning that the interviews given by Amit Jani, regarding this film and Salman Khan, and the teaser released as of now, which are available on various social media platforms, should be taken down within 24 hours.”

Khan’s lawyers argued, “There was nothing left to imagination. This movie is completely about me.” They told the court that Khan had been acquitted in three of the four cases and that the sentence in the remaining case had been suspended.

Justice Jyoti Singh told the lawyer representing the producer, “You seem to get emboldened by the fact that no order was passed last time. Your client thinks he is above the law. He is getting worse day by day... Every minute it is in the public domain, it is harming the reputation of the plaintiff (Salman Khan) here. I was mild with you, but you are incorrigible... You can’t do this even to a common man. It cannot get worse than this even for a common man.”

--------------------------------------

On Monday, the Delhi High Court, directed the removal of links related to the teaser of Kala Hiran: The Battle For Legacy, allegedly inspired by Salman Khan’s 1998 blackbuck poaching case. Justice Jyoti Singh also said she would order the removal of interviews by producer Amit Jani.

Salman Khan’s lawyer, advocate Parag Khandhar, says, “The Delhi HC directed Amit Jani to remove Kala Hiran movie teaser appearing on various social media platforms and certain interviews, the links of which are provided by Salman Khan in his application.”

The court has given the producer 24 hours to take down the content, failing which platforms like YouTube would have to act.

In his application filed in June, Salman alleged that the film’s promotional material infringes his personality rights, citing references to him, including a lookalike wearing his signature turquoise bracelet.

Responding to the legal notice, producer Amit Jani rejected the allegations, asserting that the film is based on material already available in the public domain and centres on the Bishnoi community’s efforts to protect wildlife.

Actor Salman Khan has sent a legal notice to the makers of Kala Hiran: The Battle For Legacy, a film widely perceived to draw inspiration from the actor’s 1998 blackbuck poaching case, a controversy that has remained in the spotlight over the years and resurfaced recently amid threats linked to the Bishnoi community.

The actor has sought a halt to the film’s release and demanded the immediate removal of its posters and promotional material. According to reports, the notice warns of further legal action if the demands are not complied with. The film is directed by Bharat S Shrinate and produced by Amit Jani. The makers unveiled the film’s first-look poster earlier this week.

On Tuesday, producer Amit Jani, reacting to the legal notice, maintained, “This is not a Salman Khan biopic. The film is based on a larger story involving the Bishnoi community, their struggle, and their deep connection with wildlife... I have not shown Salman Khan in a negative light, nor have I glorified Lawrence Bishnoi. The film presents what is already available in the public domain. Only the poster has been released. The teaser is yet to come. Sending a legal notice at this stage, without any discussion, was unnecessary,” he told India Today.

-----------------------------------------

Salman Khan’s legal team has sent a notice to the makers of a proposed film titled Kala Hiran, stating that the project could damage his reputation and interfere with the ongoing case before the Rajasthan High Court.

The notice states that Salman has never authorised the project and has no connection with those involved in making it: “Your actions falsely suggest a nexus or association with our client, when in fact, there exists none.”

The notice also mentions that the proposed film is defamatory because it allegedly portrays the actor in a negative light while the case is still pending before the Rajasthan High Court. It further states that these actions may amount to an offence under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and that Salman reserves the right to initiate civil and criminal proceedings against those involved. The notice, addressed to casting director Akshay Pandey, demands that all work on the film be stopped immediately. It also seeks an unconditional written apology from those involved.

The film’s producer, Amit Jani, posted on social media that people associated with the Kala Hiran movie are being intimidated with the legal notice issued by Salman’s team, while the actor’s legal team refused to comment on the notice.

The notice states, “To our client’s shock and dismay, it has come to his attention that you are developing a cinematographic work, tentatively titled Kala Hiran, purportedly inspired by or based on the so-called ‘black buck incident’, associated with our client. It is understood that you have been approaching actors for acting in the proposed film while representing that its storyline is inspired by the said case, and that you have circulated materials pertaining to the film, including but not limited to the synopsis, character sketches, etc.”

Another issue raised in the notice concerns personality rights. The legal team argues that even if Salman’s name is not used directly, any character or storyline that points to him could amount to a violation of his rights.

The notice states, “The proposed film including its synopsis and character sketches, is clearly identifiable and referable to our client and events associated with our client. Any such depiction, whether direct or indirect of our client’s persona, identity, and/or events allegedly connected to our client, without his authorization or consent would amount to a violation of our client’s personality rights, right to privacy and right to publicity.”

Excerpts from Salman’s legal notice to the makers of Kala Hiran further reads, “The proposed film is defamatory in nature. The proposed film contains and is intended to convey false, misleading and derogatory imputations concerning our client, including insinuations of culpability in relation to the said case, which as mentioned hereinabove, remains sub-judice... You have deliberately sensationalized the said case, and it is evident that the same is an attempt to stir up controversy and make headlines to grab the attention of the general public, at the cost of our client’s goodwill and reputation. Our client further states that reputation and goodwill are inseparable elements of an actor and play a critical role in the life and business.”

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday allowed streaming platform Zee5 to release its documentary Lawrence Of Punjab, subject to a change in title and removal of certain portions. The Court observed that the documentary, when viewed as a whole, does not glorify gangsters or criminal activities in any manner. Justice Jagmohan Bansal, in a judgment uploaded on the court’s website on May 11, said that after watching the documentary, he found its overall message to be against gangster culture.

The Court observed that “It cannot be concluded that release of the impugned documentary is going to create problem of public order or public safety. The fact that it is documentary and not a movie where artists are playing role cannot be ignored. Number of web series displaying violence/crime are available in public domain. More than a dozen Hindi movies which are purely based upon lifestyle of gangsters are available in the market. Thus, by no stretch of imagination, it can be concluded that impugned documentary would incite youngsters to involve in criminal activities.”

The Court further stated, “It does not find that release of documentary would create problem of public order. It is not going to instigate, inspire, promote or entice anyone.”

The HC held that the message of a filmmaker cannot be judged by isolated portions of a film and that a documentary must be viewed in its entirety from the perspective of an average and reasonable viewer. The Court said that the people interviewed in the documentary were not glorifying gangsters or crime in any way, “It is not prepared in the form of film whereas it is a mere documentary where material available in public domain has been compiled and few persons such as two retired policemen, 2-3 reporters and one advocate are expressing their opinion. None of them is glorifying crime or criminals.”

The makers did not respond to the verdict till the time of going to press.

---------------------------------------------------------

​- The High Court directed that the title of the documentary, as well as the trailer and poster, be changed before release

​- The expressions ‘Lawrence’, ‘Bishnoi’ or ‘Punjab’ shall not be used

​- The streaming platform has also been directed to remove content relating to two interviews of Lawrence Bishnoi

​- The Punjab DGP to identify and ensure removal of content that glorifies crime or criminals

---------------------------------------------------------

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had earlier issued an advisory against the release of Lawrence of Punjab after Punjab Police expressed apprehensions that the documentary, reportedly based on the rise of alleged gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, could be prejudicial to public order. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring had also approached the High Court challenging the proposed release of the documentary. The release was subsequently stalled after the Ministry advised Zee5 not to proceed with streaming it, following which the streaming platform moved the High Court seeking quashing of the advisory, contending that the documentary did not intend to glorify criminal activities.

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.

-----------------------------------

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)

-----------------------------------

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.

----------------------------------------

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.

----------------------------------------

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.”

Mumbai: An inquiry has been launched into two incidents of security breach in two days at actor Salman Khan's Bandra home despite his Y+ security.

Isha Chhabria (32), an aspiring model-actor and Khar resident, entered Galaxy Apartment at 3am Wednesday claiming she was a building resident. She reached the actor's first-floor flat, rang the doorbell and told one of his staffers she had been invited by Khan. When the staffer checked with Khan, he denied inviting anyone home at that hour. As the staffer called the guards and police, Chhabria managed to walk out. She was tracked down with the help of CCTV footage and arrested a day later.

Police are examining the security lapse as there were no guards outside the actor's flat at that time.

The previous day, a Chhattisgarh resident Jitendra Kumar Singh (23), who claimed to be Khan's fan, was nabbed after he jumped inside the compound from the front gate and tried to run into the building.

Chhabria, who hails from UP, was arrested for trespass and house break-in and produced before the Bandra court which sent her to one day in police custody. Singh who too was caught for trespassing was served a notice and asked to remain present when called for questioning.

Security was intensified outside actor Salman Khan's Bandra residence Thursday following two incidents of security breach registered with Bandra police.

Cops located Isha Chhabria, an aspiring model-actor, at her Khar residence after filing an FIR at Bandra police station Wednesday night. A police officer said, "She left after the actor's caretaker called security guards and the police. She was tracked with the help of footage from 30 CCTVs from Bandra to Khar. She managed to enter the building after tricking security at the main gate and confidently walked in."

The officer said after her arrest, Chhabria told cops she had met Khan at a gathering six months ago, and continued to maintain that she had landed up at the actor's residence only upon his invitation.

Police are examining the security lapse for Chhabria's unauthorised entry at 3am without verifying her claims and noting there were no guards outside the actor's first-floor flat at that time. "The woman also successfully left through the main entrance without detection. An inquiry has been initiated," an officer said.

On Tuesday, Chhattisgarh resident Singh was spotted near Khan's building at 9.45 am. When constable Sandip Rangari asked him to leave, Singh threw his mobile phone in frustration and left.

"He returned at 7.15 pm and managed to enter the main gate of Galaxy Apartments after blocking a car belonging to a person living in the same building. However, he was stopped and handed over to Bandra police," Rangari said in the FIR. Singh might have given a false Chhattisgarh address to Mumbai cops. Durg police told TOI there is no location named ‘Dhumardhin' in the district.

DCP Dikshit Gedam confirmed the cases without elaborating on them. Both Gedam and joint commissioner Satyanarayan Chaudhari did not comment on TOI's security breach queries. Khan was provided with Y-plus security status after two bikers, allegedly linked to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, fired four rounds at Khan's residence on April 14, 2024. Before the incident, Khan had been given two police constables for security.

---------------------------------

Mumbai: A year after shots were fired outside Salman Khan's Bandra residence, Worli traffic police's helpline on Sunday received a WhatsApp message threatening to enter the actor's house and kill him and blow up his car with a bomb. Within 24 hours of filing the FIR, Worli police identified the sender as Mayank Pandya (25) from Vadodara in Gujarat and detained him.

"Using technical intelligence, we tracked down Pandya at his Vadodara residence. As he is undergoing treatment for a mental illness, we have issued him a notice and asked him to join the investigation," said a police officer.

The threat message, written in Hindi, was sent between 6.27 am and 6.29 am on Sunday, said police. During questioning, Pandya said he recently joined a social media group where learnt about the Lawrence Bishnoi gang targeting Salman, the officer added.

A Worli police team, led by senior inspector Ravindra Katkar, is probing the case.

In the last three years, Salman and his family members, including his father Salim Khan, have received multiple threats from the Bishnoi gang due to the actor's alleged involvement in the 1998 blackbuck killing case during the shooting of ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain' in Rajasthan. Blackbucks are considered sacred by the Bishnoi community.

The Bishnoi syndicate allegedly wanted to assassinate Salman before killing Punjabi pop singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Just days after Moose Wala's death in 2022, Salim's security team found a threat letter at Bandra Bandstand promenade. Salman's security was then elevated to Y-plus category.

In the wee hours of April 14, 2024, two bike-borne men, allegedly belonging to the Bishnoi gang, fired multiple rounds outside the actor's residence, Galaxy Apartments. Seven men were arrested, but one of them, Anuj Thapan, allegedly hanged himself in police lock-up. In May 2024, Navi Mumbai police arrested five men who were allegedly planning an ambush near Salman's Panvel farmhouse using sophisticated weapons. In Oct and Nov 2024, four separate messages threatening to kill Salman were received on Worli traffic police's helpline number.

--------------------------------------

Actor Salman Khan received yet another death threat from an unknown individual in the early hours of Sunday, Mumbai Police has said.

The message, directed to the actor, was sent to the Worli traffic police’s WhatsApp helpline number; the sender threatened to “barge into” the actor’s Bandra residence and “blow up Salman Khan’s car with a bomb.”

“A threat sent to WhatsApp number of Transport Department in Worli, Mumbai yesterday,” a police statement confirmed on Monday.

Following this, a case has been registered against the unknown sender under section 351(2) (3) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Worli Police Station.

This comes almost exactly a year after two bike-borne men fired several rounds of gun shots outside the 59-year-old’s building, Galaxy Apartments, as an apparent warning. Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi claimed responsibility for the firing — Salman has been on his hitlist ever since the 1998 Blackbuck poaching case. Following the incident, the actor was given a Y+ security detail for protection.

In October last year, Mumbai Police intercepted a message demanding Rs. 5 crore or an apology from the actor in exchange for sparing his life.

“He (Salman) should go to our temple and apologize or give Rs. 5 crore. If he does not do so, we will kill him, our gang is still active,” read the message. The sender had claimed to be Lawrence’s brother, gangster Anmol Bishnoi.

On October 12, Maharashtra politician Baba Siddique was shot dead by members of Lawrence’s gang. The 66-year-old was known to be one of Salman’s close friends. In March 2023, the actor reportedly received death threats from gangster Goldy Brar. A year earlier, a threatening letter was found on a bench near Salman’s residence.

Three days before Sikandar’s release, the Salman Khan we meet is the same we’ve met all these years—soft-spoken, generous with his smile, and livening up conversations with his deadpan humour. On the surface, there is almost no sign of the turbulent 2024 that he has had. Except the heightened security around. When the superstar sits down with a group of media-persons, Sikandar is the first thing we talk about. Director A R Murugadoss, like his previous Bollywood hits Ghajini (2008) and Holiday (2015), has designed it as an actioner.

“Till emotion is not attached to the action, it has no meaning. Otherwise, you can shoot fight scenes with a bunch of fighters. In Akshay [Kumar] and Aamir’s [Khan] films, the action was superb, as it is here too,” states Khan.

The trade is hopeful that his maiden offering with Murugadoss will give the box-office that elusive blockbuster. But Khan jokes that this collaboration had an odd detractor in Ghajini actor Pradeep Rawat. “I’ve done five to six films with Pradeep. He had remarked once, ‘Murugadoss is so disciplined and sincere. How will Salman work with him? Salman gets angry easily.’ When I meet Pradeep, I’ll ask him, ‘Bhai, when did I get angry with you?’” he laughs.

Sikandar marks the actor’s return to the big screen after over a year. Much has happened in the interim. Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi issued fresh death threats to him after claiming responsibility for NCP leader Baba Siddique’s murder last October. Have the threats made him fearful? Khan points his finger upwards and says, “God is there. Jitni umar likhi hai, utni likhi hai. Sometimes, when you have to walk with so many people around, [it becomes] a problem.”

Lately, his fans were concerned over his health after they felt he looked tired in some pictures. Considering his physique has been an aspiration for generations of men, we ask him how his body has evolved with age.

“Every bone has been broken, every ligament has been torn; back then, we wouldn’t even get rest. After you hit a certain age, it troubles you. There are no body shots in this film; if there were, I would’ve got that body in 15 days. You should be healthy. When it comes to me, I don’t get lean, I get six-pack abs.”

Mumbai: A man allegedly entered Bollywood actor Salman Khan's shooting location in Shivaji Park, Dadar on Wednesday and issued threats in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

Police said the man got into an argument with the shooting team in a bid to enter the set and then threatened the staff that he would call members of the Bishnoi gang. Police immediately took the man into custody.

The incident caused a brief commotion on the set, but security personnel quickly intervened. The Mumbai Crime Branch also reached Shivaji Park police station to interrogate the suspect and ascertain the motive behind the incident.

Khan has been under constant threat from the Bishnoi gang since the blackbuck poaching case.

--------------------------------------

In a shocking incident, a man allegedly entered the shooting venue of Bollywood actor Salman Khan in central Mumbai and allegedly issued threats in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, an official said on Wednesday.

The suspect was immediately held and taken to the Shivaji Park Police Station for questioning, the official said.

According to the police sources, the incident took when the suspect managed to gain access to the set where Salman Khan was scheduled to shoot.

The Mumbai Police has stepped up Salman Khan's security after a firing incident that took place at the actors Bandra residence in April this year.

In April, two motorcyclists had opened fire outside Salman Khan's house.

They had shot four bullets outside the Galaxy Apartments in Mumbai's Bandra west, where the actor lives, before fleeing.

Earlier this week, former actor and Salman Khan’s ex-girlfriend Somy Ali hit headlines when she reached out to Lawrence Bishnoi on social media and expressed her wish to chat with him. What made her reach out to the incarcerated gangster, who has issued life threats to Khan and has claimed responsibility for NCP leader Baba Siddique’s murder? Her anti-violence stand, said Ali.

“I have always been anti-violence. While I want to have nothing to do with Salman, I would never want him hurt, let alone be murdered,” the US-based former actor told mid-day over an e-mail interview.

Ali, who runs the not-for-profit organisation No More Tears, didn’t think her post would be deemed controversial. As someone who holds a Master’s degree in psychology, she said she wanted to dig deep into Bishnoi’s psyche.

“As a psychologist, I watched his interview four times, and concluded that his family must have brainwashed him since [his young days]. That’s why I’d like to have a Zoom call with him and dig deep into his psyche. Lawrence is a dimwit, but an educated dimwit as he has a law degree.”

Asked what she would tell Bishnoi if she got a chance to talk to him, she said, “I will assess why he is so hell bent on attaining fame by having people murdered. He wants people to revere and fear him to an unimaginable level, like Hitler.”

Over the years, Bishnoi has issued threats to Salman, vowing revenge over the superstar’s 1998 alleged killing of two blackbucks, which are considered sacred by the Bishnoi community. The October 12 assassination of Siddique is being viewed as the gangster’s warning to him.

Recently, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan vouched for his son, stating that Salman would never hurt an animal. Her take? “I have far too much respect for Salim uncle and Salma aunty. The most decent people in that household were the parents, Arbaaz and Sohail. The rest were awful to me.”

However, Ali did not share the screenwriter’s confidence. She recalled that she used to stay at Salman’s Galaxy apartment with him when the 1998 incident took place.

“I had accompanied Salman many times on his hunting [trips] even though I hated it and would come up with some ploy so that the animal could run away. He didn’t know the deer was deemed as God by the Bishnoi tribe. I can say this because this was talked about in the [Khan] household many times. If Salman knew this fact, he wouldn’t have even thought of shooting the deer. As much as he enjoys hunting, which stems from a narcissistic trait of power and control, he loves animals and children.”

Khan and Ali dated for eight years. At the time, their relationship often made news—one infamous incident involved the superstar apparently pouring Thums Up on her head. “Manisha [Koirala] is the only friend who stood up for me when Salman poured Thums Up on my hair,” she recalled. After parting ways with Salman in 1999, Ali moved back to the US.

“I had completely disconnected from Hindi films because it took me back to an awful past. I never wanted to look back. I have not been in touch with Salman or his family. The last time I spoke to him was in 2012, about my NGO.”

What would she tell Salman if she met him today? “I don’t ever want to see his face again. We have both moved on. I can’t stand the man, but I don’t want him murdered.”

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.”

There has been much talk about the entertainment industry making room for stories over stars. But the on-ground reality is different, says Sanjay Gupta. The filmmaker learnt it the hard way as he set out to make The Miranda Brothers, starring Harshvardhan Rane and Meezaan Jafri. “To pull off such a film isn’t easy. I started my digital wing because we cannot ignore OTT,” he states.

The casting for the football drama, set to première on Jio Cinema, had to be simple. The director needed two actors well-versed in the sport. “I wanted to make the film immediately. If I were to go to Varun [Dhawan] or Sidharth [Malhotra], I would have to wait for a year. None of the stars at that time were willing to do a direct-to-OTT film. Even now, most of them are not. As I shot this movie in Goa, I learnt that I’m not dependent on a crew of 300. You can be a big-ticket director and yet make a movie that you feel for. Every film doesn’t have to be with mega stars.”

The Miranda Brothers is a departure for Gupta, who, over the past three decades, has made movies about the Bombay underworld—be it the Shootout franchise, or Mumbai Saga (2019). But today, even as the underworld has reared its ugly head again with Baba Siddique’s murder, the director says the current environment can’t be reflected on celluloid.

“These times cannot be chronicled because everything is state-controlled, even crime. You have Lawrence Bishnoi sitting in the Sabarmati jail, putting out videos and messages. What’s going on! This is a show of law and order collapsing. Ektaa [R Kapoor] and I are working on the third edition of the Shootout franchise. One of the decisions we’ve made is not to set it in Mumbai. These are uncertain times. So, we are researching to do [a story] outside Mumbai.”

This restraint is not in crime stories alone. Gupta rues that he has to often hold back as a filmmaker, given the current scenario.

“If you’re an intelligent filmmaker and not too stubborn, you make the changes yourself because the legal department and OTT platforms go through the script and they censor it [preemptively]. They say this may land us in trouble, that may land us in trouble. It’s an atmosphere of fear. You cannot have fearless storytelling anymore. My next show is based on a true story that happened in Mumbai in front of our eyes, it was appalling. But we’re changing the names because you can’t take names anymore. I feel disillusioned on behalf of the new generation of filmmakers. They all have a voice. But how many of them will be able to express what they truly want to? There is no medium. Earlier, it seemed that you can say what you want on OTT. But now it has become the most censored as people heavily come down on them. Today, the filmmaker’s agency is taken away.”

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