Portraying a jawan on screen entails intense preparation. Salman Khan is finding that out, having dived into the prep for his next with director Apoorva Lakhia. In the yet-untitled war drama, Khan steps into the shoes of late Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment, who was killed during the India-China Galwan Valley clash in June 2020. mid-day has learnt that the superstar kicked off his physical training from early June, focusing on two areas — general fitness, and high altitude acclimatization. And who is training him? Well, Khan himself.

That’s not surprising considering the superstar has been a fitness enthusiast for decades. A source reveals,

“Salman has refurbished his two gyms — a sprawling one at his Khandala farmhouse, and a smaller one at his Bandra apartment — to suit the current requirements. He trains for four hours daily and is undergoing circuit training focusing on different muscle groups. The exercises are designed to build strength, endurance, and cardiovascular improvement, the latter being important for high-altitude travellers.”

Lakhia has apparently slotted a look test for early July, and the first schedule for August. In the window between the two, the leading man will begin altitude training as a chunk of the film will be shot in Ladakh.

The source adds, “The training includes periodically exposing the body to higher altitudes, thus giving it time to adjust to the lower oxygen level. Oxygen saturation level can be achieved at home through altitude simulation tents, chambers, or hypoxic masks. Salman may join an altitude training studio because at 59, he needs to be fighting fit to shoot combat sequences in Ladakh.”

Mumbai: A woman who had trespassed into actor Salman Khan's building in Bandra was mistaken security personnel for a resident of the building.

A police officer said that the confident walk and appearance of the woman, Isha Chhabria (32), a junior artiste, gave security personnel the impression that she was a resident of the building. The woman has claimed that she had met the actor at a party some time ago. Security at the actor's home was beefed up after threats to him.

The woman allegedly reached the first floor of Galaxy Apartment, Bandra (west), bypassing security personnel at the entrance at 3am on Wednesday. She was arrested from her Khar residence on Thursday. The woman knocked on the door to the actor's house with the intention of meeting him, the police said.

After a day in police custody, she had sought bail in Bandra court. On Friday, she was sent to judicial custody.

During questioning, the woman told the police about her decade-long struggle in the film industry. "She claims she entered the building in the early hours, hoping there would be fewer people around. She told the security personnel that she had been invited by the actor for a meeting at that time," an officer from Bandra police station said.

Authorities said she has no crime record, and she only wanted to meet the actor who, they said, was not at home at the time.

While a police probe has begun into the security breach incident at the actor's home, joint commissioner of police (Law & Order) Satyanarayan Chaudhari denied reports of any police officers being suspended for the same.

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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.

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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

Mumbai: In his police statement, actor Salman Khan (58) has alleged that he believes gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his gang members were behind the firing incident outside his Bandra residence on April 14. Khan said he believes the attack was carried out with the intention of killing him and his family members.

Observing that there is ample prima facie evidence on record to proceed against the accused, a special MCOCA court on Monday took cognizance of the chargesheet filed in the case earlier this month. On April 14, a biker and a pillion rider discharged several rounds at the balcony of Khan’s Bandra home and absconded.

In his statement made in June, which is part of the chargesheet, the actor said, “There had been attempts to hurt me and my family prior to this as well. I have learned from social media that Lawrence Bishnoi and gang have taken responsibility for the attack. So, I believe that it is the Lawrence Bishnoi gang who have carried out the firing at my balcony.”

As a result, Khan always advises his family members and those around him to stay alert. Khan has been provided with Y-Plus security from Mumbai police. He has weapon-trained policemen, bodyguards and private security for protection too.

Recalling the events of April 14, Khan said he heard a cracker-like sound when asleep. Later, at 4.55 am, his police bodyguard informed him that two people on a bike had fired at the first-floor balcony of his home in Galaxy Apartment.

Khan uses the balcony at various times, including while greeting fans gathered outside his home, socializing with family and friends during late hours, to get fresh air when he returns tired from work, and when he wakes up early.

In addition to the recent firing incident, Khan mentioned there had been previous attempts to harm him and his family. In 2022, his father filed a complaint at Bandra police station after finding a threat letter on a bench opposite their building. In March 2023, a case was registered based on an email threat from Lawrence Bishnoi. In Jan, two unidentified men using fake names tried to trespass Khan’s Panvel farmhouse, and an FIR was filed.

Khan’s brother, actor and film producer Arbaaz Khan, too provided a statement to the police. Arbaaz confirmed the incidents of threats and trespassing at their Panvel farmhouse, Arbaaz stated their father found a threat letter signed by “GB” and “LB’ during his morning walk, and their office received a threatening email from someone claiming to be Lawrence Bishnoi.

The chargesheet also includes transcripts of a conversation over Signal app between wanted accused Anmol Bishnoi and shooter Vikas Gupta. In the conversation, Anmol instructs Vikas to fire thoughtfully and in a manner that scares “Bhai” (referring to Khan).

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Mumbai: Two youths allegedly responsible for firing at actor Salman Khan’s residence were nabbed outside a temple 95km from Bhuj on Tuesday.

Suspected to have been sent by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to intimidate the actor, the duo — Vicky alias Vikas Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21) — allegedly fired 4 rounds at the house. They were paid Rs 1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh more was promised later, police said.

The suspects, from Bihar’s West Champaran, were apprehended near the Mata no Madh shrine around 1.30 am as they tried to blend in with devotees gathered for Navratri celebrations.

Sagar is the one who allegedly fired the weapon. Police said the duo travelled to Surat by train and disposed of their guns before going to Kutch by bus. Cops believe they reached Kutch Monday.

The duo, booked for murder bid and criminal conspiracy, and under Arms Act, has been remanded in police custody till April 25. Bishnoi and his brother Anmol have also been shown as accused.

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Mumbai: Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal from Bihar, who allegedly fired at actor Salman Khan’s Bandra home, were arrested 95 km from Bhuj in Gujarat on Tuesday. A Mumbai crime branch team led by inspector Daya Nayak produced them before the 37th metropolitan magistrate.

The two are said to have told police that jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother Anmol had hired them. They said he wanted the actor to be “punished for hunting a blackbuck” in Bawad in Mathania near Jodhpur in 1998. They allegedly told police they were asked to intimidate the actor, for which they received around Rs 1 lakh; Rs 3 lakh more was promised after the job.

Police are likely to move court to seek Lawrence’s police custody from Tihar jail and open a look out circular (LOC) against Anmol who is based in Canada and who is a key accused in recruiting the two youths besides claiming responsibility for the firing and indirectly issuing threats to Salman through social media.

Police said Anmol reportedly told the duo if they succeeded in firing two full magazines of bullets into Khan’s home, they would not only be famous, but would also be suitably rewarded.

Lakhmi Gautam, joint commissioner of police (crime) said, “While Vicky is Class 10 pass, Sagar is Class 8 pass and we are checking their antecedents to see if there are any previous cases against them. They carried out the firing at the behest of Bishnoi for monetary consideration and prima facie investigation suggests that they did three to four recces and were spotted near Taj Land’s End at Bandra.” Gautam said they are exploring whether Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) can be invoked.

“Anmol who was communicating with the two accused, had asked them to fire at least two full magazines of bullets (one magazine contains five bullets) at Khan’s home and they were told just to frighten him and not to harm anyone. They roamed around the whole night at Bandstand until 4.51am when they moved towards Salman’s Galaxy Apartment and fired four rounds from a slowly moving bike. While four bullets were fired smoothly, the fifth got stuck and accidentally fell live. They fled the scene of crime,” said a police source.

The accused told the police they have been camping in Mumbai since Feb 28 and had surveyed Khan’s Panvel farmhouse as well as Galaxy Apartments residence. In the interim, the accused rented a room in Panvel, went back to their village during Holi and returned on April 1. The first leads came from the CCTV footage of the bike used by the duo, which led police to its seller in Panvel. The bike seller not only gave their phone numbers, but also the address of their rented room in Panvel. The landlord gave them copies of Aadhaar cards and phone numbers the duo had submitted. Technical analysis of the phones helped police trace them till Bhuj.

“We are trying to identify the person who had delivered the weapon and cash to the duo on behalf of Anmol. Sagar appears to have come in contact with a Bishnoi gang member while he was in Haryana a few months ago,” said an officer.

Meanwhile, Mumbai police said Vishal aka Kalu’s involvement that had cropped up in relation to the case in Delhi police’s investigation has not been established in their probe.

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Mumbai/Rajkot: The arrest of two suspects from Gujarat on Tuesday for allegedly firing at actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence on Sunday saw different agencies trying to take credit for “cracking the case”. A senior IPS officer called it “healthy competition”.

Immediately after the city crime branch announced a press conference on the arrests on Tuesday, Bandra police, which had initially registered an offence of attempt to murder against the accused, were quick to call it a “joint operation”. Bandra police said the crime branch had succeeded in arresting the duo only after they had provided basic information of the bike used by the accused, CCTV footage and call detail records.

Crime branch officials rubbished this, saying after the home department transferred the case to them, local police held back information. “Despite a request to hand over all papers and the DVR (digital video recorder), they did not provide us with any details, which we have brought to the notice of our seniors. The crime intelligence unit assisted us in gathering technical intelligence regarding the accused,” said a crime branch source.

A Mumbai police official said they had formed a special team from Bandra police station comprising sub-inspector Sushant Bavachakar and constables Shivraj Mashal and Nitin Sapkale “who worked hard and had almost reached Bhuj but we were little late. The crime branch had already picked up the accused with local police’s help”. The crime branch team comprised inspector Daya Nayak and Bharat Ghone headed by DCP Datta Nalawade and Vishal Thakur and joint commissioner of police Lakhmi Gautam.

Meanwhile, Bhuj police issued a press note stating, “Based on technical work and activation of private network information received that the accused had taken shelter in an ashram near Matanamadh Mandir premises, we arrested them and handed over them to Mumbai crime branch.”

Mahendra Bagaria, deputy inspector general of police (Kutch West), said the arrests were made around 1.30am on Tuesday. “We got to know their location via human intelligence but were careful, apprehending they might possess weapons and fire at us. We alerted all check posts before starting the operation and went there in a private car in civil dress,” he said. “We believe they came here for the first time, but are probing their possible links in Kutch.”

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Did the shooters at Galaxy Apartment deliberately leave enough clues behind, making it an easy job for the cops? The Mumbai Crime Branch discovered that the arrested accused purposely left behind various clues and pieces of evidence that aided the police in tracing them.

Right from the beginning of the shootout, The shooters, Vickey Kumar Gupta, 25; and Sagar Kumar Pal, 23, members of the Bishnoi gang who are now in custody, left behind hints, making it a cakewalk for the cops to arrest them. On Sunday morning, instead of disposing of the bike used in the firing carefully, they abandoned it hardly one kilometre away from Salman’s residence at the gate of Mount Mary Church in Bandra.

Officials said that the bike was found with the original number plate, which played a crucial role in the investigations. “They could have easily destroyed the number plate or the bike, but it was abandoned so close to the crime scene,” an officer from Bandra police station said.

Also, the accused bought the bike used in the firing with their original documents. If that was not enough for the cops to trace them, they also made a rental agreement with their landlord using their original documents and genuine phone numbers. Police found that there was no effort made to hide the address of the temporary rented accommodation from the bike owner. 

Eventually, with his questioning, the cops traced the landlord of their house. They made a house rental agreement in Panvel using their original Aadhar card and Pan card. The investigation also revealed that the accused were in contact with a member of the Bishnoi gang who instructed them to leave behind evidence for the police to find and on their next steps.

The duo belonged to Champaran district in Bihar and have been working for the gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his gang for the past two years. Crime Branch officials believe that the Bishnoi gang intended to only warn Salman Khan and not harm him. The gang also wanted Gupta and Pal to be arrested so that he could confirm and take responsibility for the firing to instil fear in the public on behalf of their gang.

Sources revealed that after the firing, the accused informed the Bishnoi gang member that they had completed their task and were fleeing. They were instructed to leave the bike outside Mount Mary church in Bandra and leave the spot. The accused then took an auto to Bandra railway station, boarded a slow local train for Santacruz station. The two then took another auto to Vakola signal on the Western Express Highway and changed to yet another auto to reach the Mira Road area. Subsequently, they travelled to Surat, Gujarat by rented car and took public transport.

The Unit 9 crime branch officer, Daya Nayak, received a tip-off about the accused hiding in a Mataji temple (Madh) in the Kutch Bhuj area in Gujarat. The officers checked the route of the bus and reached Kutch, and before reaching, they informed the local Crime Branch of Kutch Bhuj to identify them. The Mumbai Crime Branch team also shared the photos of the suspected accused with the Gujarat Crime Branch, and they checked the Mataji temple area and found both accused and took them into custody.

In the investigation, police also found that this was the second visit of the shooters to Mumbai. Earlier, they had arrived in Mumbai in February and had returned to their hometown for Holi celebration on March 24, and they returned again to Mumbai on April 1. The cops also found that the gun was delivered to them after April 1. Cops assumed that the firing plan was planned before February 28 by the Bishnoi gang. Cops also found that the pistol which was used for firing was of high-range quality. Both accused also took basic training in Haryana. Interestingly, cops didn’t find any criminal records of both accused. Cops also recovered 1 phone from them. Cops suspected they threw the gun into some river.

Mumbai: Chief minister Eknath Shinde visited actor Salman Khan’s residence in Bandra on Tuesday and assured him of protection after two men were arrested in connection with firing at his flat. CM Shinde said stringent action will be taken against those involved in the firing. The CM said he has instructed city police commissioner to strengthen security cover for Khan and his family.

Meanwhile, the opposition slammed the Shinde-BJP govt over the firing incident, alleging that the law-and-order machinery of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, is destroyed, and that home minister Devendra Fadnavis is busy with politics.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, “Salman Khan is a superstar, but in Mumbai, law and order has been destroyed. Women, youth and the common man are worried. The govt is busy filing fake cases against political rivals. We should ask the commissioner of police. Is he not responsible? The entire police department is deputed in service of all traitors who have joined the BJP. They all have four-five armed gunmen,” Raut said.

“Salman Khan has been receiving constant threats, despite this, such an incident is proof of the failure of the state Home Ministry. If such an incident can happen at the house of a person with such high security, then what about the common people? Such incidents are increasing because our police and agencies have been put behind opposition leaders instead of goons.” city Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad posted on X.

Mumbai/Jaipur: Police teams probing the firing on actor Salman Khan’s residence, have fanned out to Delhi, Jaipur and Bihar to trace the two shooters who are suspected to have left the city after the incident. One has been identified as Vishal alias Kalu, a suspect in a Gurgaon murder. The other is possibly from Rajasthan, where a Mumbai ATS team is questioning members of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Rohit Godara gangs in custody.

Within hours of the firing, a strong lead took Mumbai crime branch to an address in Panvel where the duo stayed for 15 days on a fictitious identity. They have questioned three persons—the landlord of the house, the owner of the bike used in the firing, and a broker who negotiated its purchase.

Dump data of mobile phones used around Khan’s residence suggest the two abandoned the bike in Bandra after the firing, took an auto to Santacruz station from where they took a train to Andheri before phones were switched off. They may have taken a long dis tance train to leave the city.

An officer said the duo are believed to have conducted two or three recces including on Eid when Khan was on the balcony to greet fans.

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Mumbai/Jaipur: The two shooters suspected to have fired at actor Salman Khan’s house in Bandra are believed to have made two or three recces while staying at Panvel for 15 days. In fact, on Sunday, before the shooting, CCTV footage showed the duo wearing caps and T-shirts and carrying backpacks on foot in the vicinity of Khan’s residence. Khan’s farmhouse is also in Panvel.

Preliminary investigations suggest the conspiracy was hatched in Canada by a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which gunned down popular Punjabi rapper-singer Sidhu Moose Wala.

“The shooters may have been asked by their handlers to scare the actor by firing at his residence. Two days ago on Eid, when Khan appeared on the balcony and waved to fans, they may have been there but due to police bandobast they could have developed cold feet,” said an officer.

The two bike-borne individuals wearing helmets fired five rounds outside Salman Khan’s residence around 5 am on Sunday. One shell was found on his balcony. The city Forensic Science Laboratory has analysed the residue from the crime scene. They suspect the firearm used was a country-made pistol.

Police sources said the fact that the shooters fired blindly in the early hours outside Khan’s residence in Galaxy apartment at Bandstand, Bandra suggest the intention was not to harm Khan but to intimidate him.

The state home department late Sunday transferred the case to the city crime branch. Since Nov 2022, Khan’s security has been elevated to Y-Plus on account of threats from gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar. Last year on Mumbai police's request, he applied for a personal arms license which was immediately issued.

In November 2023, police reviewed his security following another threat by the Bishnoi gang. The threat was in a Facebook post to Punjabi singer actor Gippy Grewal while claiming responsibility for shots fired outside Grewal's Canada residence.

Bishnoi's nephew, Anmol, is believed to have used a gangster named Rohit Godara, also based in Canada, to plan the latest attack. Godara is believed to have engaged the two youths including Kalu, who is accused in cases of robbery, snatching and illegal weapon possession. Kalu is believed to have come in contact with Godara’s gang in Tihar jail. Anmol Bishnoi has purportedly claimed responsibility for the shootout in an online post. Police have tracked the VPN of Anmol Bishnoi's post to Portugal.

A Mumbai ATS team in Jaipur comprising three additional SPs, interrogated Rithik Boxer, an associate of Godara and Bishnoi, lodged in Sodala jail. A Rajasthan police official said, "Rithik Boxer was brought on a production warrant from Ajmer High Security Jail in connection with a case related to extortion threats to businessmen in the state. He has been lodged at Sodala.”

Boxer has eight cases registered in police stations in Jaipur, three in Hanumangarh, and one in Bikaner. He was caught by a police team at Raxaul on March 20, 2023, while attempting to enter In dia via Bihar from Nepal. This year on Jan 28, after armed assailants opened fire at a private club in Jaipur, Boxer had claimed responsibility for it on social media. Rithik had demanded Rs 5 crore from the club owner; Godara also sought a payment.

An official said Boxer and two others, Rohit Rathore, and Nitin Fauji, were questioned by the Mumbai team. They also conducted inquiries at a juvenile home from which two minors were extracted by Bishnoi and coerced into committing a murder in Rohtak. The minors were caught at the Nepal border while crossing over.

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Mumbai: Even as investigations into the shootout outside actor Salman Khan's house gathered pace, a stream of fans kept arriving outside his residence near Bandra Bandstand to show solidarity with 'Bhai' as they call him. Most were out-of-towners on a summer vacation to Mumbai. They took selfies at the building entrance, with the Galaxy Apartment plaque firmly in frame.

At 6.20 pm, a group of friends from Pune including Ehtesham and Wajahat landed a scoop when they shot videos of Salman Khan leaving his apartment in a white SUV amid a convoy of vehicles. Among the onlookers was a maulana who teaches at a madrassa in Surat. He came with his wife and three children after having toured Haji Ali and Mahim dargahs. "I offer dua'as for Salman's welfare," he said.

Policemen who are keeping vigil in 12-hour shifts pointed to the broken gate of Galaxy Garden opposite the building. "The gate gave way after a large crowd of fans crashed into it as they tried to duck a police lathi charge on Eid ul' Fitr April 11. Welding work is under way and it will soon be repaired," said a watchman. "Thousands of people had arrived to greet Bhai and see him appear on the balcony at Eid. Otherwise the tarpaulin sheet covering the verandah usually remains drawn."

Reports said Khan was keen to resume work after the mishap. He has requested celebrities to avoid visiting the apartment, given inconvenience caused to other residents of the society. Since the incident, politicians Baba Siddique, his son Zeeshan and Raj Thackeray as well as filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar arrived at Khan's residence.

In the first official statement from the family, Salman's brother, actor Arbaaz Khan wrote on Instagram Monday evening, "The recent incident of firing by two unidentified persons on a motorcycle at Gal- axy apartment the residence of the Salim Khan family is very disturbing and unnerving. Our family has been taken aback by this shocking incident that took place. Unfortunately some people claiming to be close to our family and pretending to be the spokesperson have been making loose statements to the media saying it's all a publicity stunt and the family remains unaffected which is not true and these views should not be taken seriously (sic)."

"No member of the Salim Khan family has made any statement regarding this incident to the media. At this time the family is helping and cooperating with police in the investigation of this untoward incident. We have faith in Mumbai police and we have been assured they will do everything in their capacity to protect and secure our family. Thank you everyone for your love and support." His father told a TV channel, “They just want publicity.”

Mumbai: CM Eknath Shinde on Sunday spoke to Salman Khan over the phone and assured him of increased security after two bike-borne assailants fired shots outside the actor’s Bandra residence. Shinde also held a discussion with police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and directed him to increase Salman’s security.

Calling the firing incident “unfortunate”, Shinde said: “I have spoken to the police commissioner and other senior officers and told them to take care of Salman’s security. I spoke to Salman too and assured him of stern action against those involved. Police will nab the accused soon.”

Amid the opposition’s allegations of failing law and order in the state, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the state home portfolio, said: “The real information will come out from police investigation...it won’t be right to speculate and interpret this incident as a breakdown of law and order.”

NCP (SP) MP from Baramati Supriya Sule said the firing incident indicates the state home ministry’s failure. “It is shocking...The area where Salman Khan lives is crowded...people’s lives are at risk. It seems that it is ‘Ab ki baar, golibar sarkar’ (This time around, a govt that promotes firing),” she said. “Many sections of society, including myself, are facing attacks. Centre’s data has also highlighted the fact that crime rate in Maharashtra has increased. An MLA of the ruling party had fired bullets at an individual inside a police station. So, on-road firing is not a big deal for this govt.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Raut concurred: “...law and order has broken down across Maharashtra...CM and home minister are busy...campaigning and targeting opposition...govt is busy filing fake cases against political rivals...The firing incident...is a message that bullets can be fired anywhere and anytime in Mumbai. The police department is deputed in service of traitors who have joined BJP...”

City Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad posted on X: “...Such incidents are increasing because our police and agencies have been put behind opposition leaders instead of goons. It is true that the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, who is also the Home Minister, are currently busy in the tug-of-war over seat sharing, but does this mean that the safety of the public should be put at stake?”

—Inputs from Prasad Kulkarni in Pune

Two unidentified men fired five shots at actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence early on Sunday and fled. Police suspect that the accused were professional shooters who used a gun that fired 7.62-mm bullets. They fired two rounds at the window of Salman's residence and one round hit the building wall on the first and second floors of Galaxy Apartment.

Interestingly, the sharpshooters had been conducting reconnaissance of the area for the past two days and had planned their escape route. The accused also noticed that the police team, along with the police jeep deployed outside Galaxy Apartment for Salman’s security, had been shifted to the Trident Hotel for the upcoming match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

The Bandra police recovered the bike used by the shooters. The accused were aware that Salman Khan had returned to Galaxy Apartment at 3 am on Sunday and fired their rounds after a police jeep left the area.

A crime branch officer informed mid-day that the two men, who arrived on a bike, were professional shooters and fired five rounds. The entire incident was captured by the CCTV cameras of Galaxy Apartment.

According to police officers, the incident occurred on Sunday at 4.51 am, with both accused arriving at the spot on a speeding bike. They had scouted out the area before the shooting. The shooters did not stop their bike outside Salman Khan's residence but fired while riding.

The security guard deployed at Salman’s residence saw the bike and made an unsuccessful attempt to chase it. The guard informed the police that the bike was moving too fast and within 2-3 seconds, the bikers had fired their shots and escaped. The shooter aimed the gun at the open window area of Salman Khan’s house, with one bullet hitting the gallery curtain, the second hitting the building wall, the third hitting a shop, the fourth firing into the air and the fifth live bullet found at the scene.

The security guard and the police team inside Galaxy Apartment opened the gate and chased the accused up to Mehboob Studio but could not find them. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident.

Following the incident, Salman informed his team and called three bodyguards for additional security. Meanwhile, Salman Khan's father, Salim Khan, was sighted at Bandstand after his walk and returned home around 9.30 am.

Salman Khan has Y Category Security as he had received death threats following the controversial film The Kashmir Files. Police sources mentioned that a police jeep initially deployed for security outside Galaxy Apartment was moved out. Later, another police jeep with Y category security personnel was stationed at Galaxy Apartment. Police discovered that the accused had abandoned their bike near Mount Mary Church then took an auto-rickshaw to escape.

The police department formed 25-30 different teams to trace the accused and check lodges, hotels, trains and bus stands. However, following the incident, a member of the Bishnoi gang, Anmol Bishnoi, claimed responsibility for the shooting on X. Anmol wrote a threatening message to Salman in Hindi with a smattering of English. The message warned the actor that this was a first and last warning and demonstration of their abilities. The message warned Salman not to test their abilities anymore as the next time the bullets would not be merely fired at his residence

In March 2023, Salman’s manager received threats via mail and filed an FIR against Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, who are currently in jail. Subsequently, Salim Khan received a threatening letter at Bandstand Promenade and security was heightened after the shooting incident.

Another angle the police are looking at is retribution by fans of Salman Khan who had gathered in large numbers outside the actor’s residence on occasion of Ramzan Eid and been subjected to a police lathi-charge.

Three fans of the actor—Asif Malik, Shavej Malik, Anas Malik—who arrived from Dehradun to meet the superstar on Sunday received the news about the firing and gathered outside Salman’s residence.

Speaking to mid-day, one of them said, “We love Salman Khan and nobody can touch him. We are with him and will block the path of bullets flying in his direction.”

Birju Shaw is not a man who dwells on what didn’t work out. Clichéd though it may be, the self-made entrepreneur instead believes in another cliché—everything happens for a reason. So, even though he has waited 21 years to meet his favourite actor, Salman Khan, he’s not nervous. At least not yet. “Nervous kyun, ma’am?” he asks, while clipping on the car seat-belt with [yet] a steady hand.

We and Shaw are on our way to Yash Raj Films Studio in Andheri. This newspaper has been on this mission for the last two months. mid-day was doggedly determined to fulfil a jabra fan’s dream. If it happened around Diwali, it would only make it sweeter.

It’s the dream that brought Shaw, 44, from Jhariya in Jharkhand to Bandra riding on Howrah Mail Express. This was in 2002. “I didn’t come here to make a living—I came to see Sir. I thought, miloonga aur wapas chala jaoonga’. But things rarely work out as planned.” 

Shaw was 22 then, with a young wife whom he had married four years ago, and a baby girl. He arrived in Mumbai on a hot Sunday in April, and spotted Govinda shooting on the steps of the Asiatic Library in Horniman Circle. He was finally in tinsel town! “Main khush tha! Pehle hi din hero ko dekha!”

The next day, he reached the famed address on Bandra Bandstand, Galaxy Apartments, where Khan lives with his family. “You know how they show in the movies…The hero has a bath and comes to the balcony to dry his hair with a towel…That’s how I had envisioned it. I waited till evening [outside Galaxy], but it didn’t happen. I didn’t eat or drink anything that day. I was disappointed but decided I wouldn’t go back home.”

Like lakhs of others who arrive by bus or train and alight at CSMT and Mumbai Central to try their luck in the city of dreams, Shaw hustled. His first job was changing Rs. 2,000 notes for a businessman at the bank for smaller notes, standing in line for hours. He’d make Rs. 200 for this, and did it for two months.

He collected enough money to start a puri-bhaji stall at Flora Fountain, which shut down in two days because a worker ripped him off by stealing. He then worked at a chai tapri near Wankhede Stadium; then at an agarbatti shop in Colaba. You’d imagine that the harsh knocks would have dissuaded him, but every chance he got, Shaw returned to Bandra. “I came here every Sunday! I’ve spent trying days on the footpath, but the desire to meet him never died.” 

Khan’s body of work managed to evoke such devotion. Shaw names a song: O O Jaane Jaana from the 1998 Kajol-Salman hit Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya.

By 2005, he was working at a bookstall at Flora Fountain; this is when Aamir Khan’s Mangal Pandey released. The premier was at Inox Theatre at Nariman Point. “I knew Salman would come!” Shaw jostled through the crowds as Rani Mukerji, Bipasha Basu, John Abraham and Salman Khan walked the red carpet. He was within touching distance. “Many of the stars touched our hands,” Shaw remembers, “But Salman sir didn’t even say hi. ‘Is this whom I have come to see?’ I thought, disappointed.”

This, Shaw, a Class X graduated, says, was a turning point. His goal now became to give his two children the education he never got. But he kept one eye on Khan. Fandom would sneak back each time he would read a news report about the star helping people in need, and giving himself to charities.

Shaw says he feels his idol’s life changed after the hit-and-run case of September 2002. “I feel he wanted to be good after that, to change what had happened. I had heard many tales of how he helped people around him. Phir mujhe unpe pyaar aya,” he says, “Insaan change ho sakta hai.”

Shaw moved from the book trade to the raddi business; from Flora Fountain to Sion Koliwada; from the footpath to a chawl in Dombivli. In 2007, he moved his family to Mumbai; his son was only two months old then. Hope continued to linger as Shaw wondered, “How can I get to Bandra West to be close to him?” By opening a scrap shop on Waroda Road, a stone’s throw from Galaxy Apartments, he was hoping that a neighbour to the star may call him to collect scrap, giving him a chance to catch a glimpse of the star.

And then one day, it happened. 

“There was one Mehta saab who called me. He lived on the same floor as Salim Khan [Khan’s scriptwriter father]. Salman sir was exiting his father’s flat, coffee cup in hand. But since I was in the middle of dealing with Mehta saab, I didn’t get the chance to stop and speak to sir. After that, I managed to spot him on similar occasions.” 

But that’s not what you call a “meeting”. “A meeting is when you chat, exchange words,” Shaw says.

Shaw now runs The Topaz bookstore and scrap shop at Waroda Road. His daughter Anjali is an advocate at the Bombay High Court, and son Alok (named after Khan’s role as a dutiful son in Baghban) studies science at Wilson College; he dreams of being a chef.

Shaw credits this social mobility to Khan. “If I had not come to Bombay, my daughter would not have grown up to be a lawyer.” 

We are curious as our car turns into Veera Desai Road: What will you tell your idol? “What can I ask him? I cannot ask him a personal question like why he didn’t decide to marry.”

While Khan’s team was chalking out the promotion plan for the recent season of Bigg Boss, mid-day had reached out to them to share Shaw’s story. We followed up when we knew Khan would once again interact with the public to promote his upcoming release, Tiger 3. His team told us that when Khan heard of Birju’s story and love for him, he decided this was worth his time.   

As Shaw unclips the seat belt to alight from the car, we see that his hand is not steady. “Maybe, I spoke too soon,” he chuckles, almost out of breath. But it doesn’t show as he sits patiently on a plastic chair outside the main studio building, clutching a gift for the star on his lap. It’s a rare book, a collector’s item—The Epic of Heroes—which he has been holding on to for 15 years. 

Shaw’s relationship with the written word is nascent and yet he has managed to make himself a connoisseur of little-known, tough to find literature. “This book has stories of people from before the Mughals; they are unheard of. The most unique thing about the book is that the pictures in it are hand-crafted colour plates; you cannot find this today,” Shaw elaborates. He hopes Khan will appreciate the gift, given his own passion for painting. 

Khan is inside a tent, a makeshift waiting area, where he is meeting others who have an appointment before us. We hear that one of them is an American of Indian origin, who has written a thesis on the star. Khan’s co-star from Tiger 3, Katrina Kaif, pops in at some point, and leaves in 10 minutes. 

We are finally called in. The star is all grace and patience as Shaw tells him his story. Shaw knows that his dream to have had a glimpse of the star on his balcony now feels immature; he’s glad that didn’t happen. “I would have gone home,” he says, misty-eyed. “I wouldn’t have brought my children to Bombay, and they wouldn’t be who they are.” 

He asks Khan if he can give him a hug; Khan smiles indulgently. He presents the star with a special paper for an autograph. Khan asks him to turn around so that he can use Shaw’s back to sign it. “Sir! Of course!” he says with military-like obedience, and flips about like a child playing hopscotch. He gleefully looks around the room and then back at us as Khan scribbles: Great to meet you Birju. Lots of love and all the best, Salman.

It’s clear to everyone in the room now that this isn’t a regular fan; Shaw is a disciple. Before we leave, Khan whispers something to Shaw. “What did he say?” we ask him on our way back. 

“That,” he says, “is  between  me and my God.”

Shaw opened his shop, hoping to be called into Galaxy one day, to collect scrap and get a glimpse of Salman

Mumbai: The city police have stepped up the security of actor Salman Khan after he received a threat mail, which had led to cops earlier registering an FIR against gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, an official said on Monday.

As per the official, two API-rank officers and eight to 10 constables will be part of Khan's security round the clock. Also, fans will not be allowed to assemble outside his residence-cum-office in Galaxy Apartments, he said.

Bandra police had on Saturday registered an FIR against gangsters Bishnoi, Brar, and one Rohit, based on a police complaint by one Prashant Gunjalkar, who as per cops, frequently visits Khan’s home and runs an artist management company. When Gunjalkar was at Khan’s office on Saturday, he noticed an email from Id “Rohit Garg”, official said quoting FIR. The e-mail stated that Khan must have seen the interview given to a news channel by Bishnoi, and if not, he should see it. Addressing Gunjalkar, it said if Khan wants to close the matter, he should talk face-to-face with Goldy bhai, adding “there is still time but agli bar, jhatka dekhne ko milega”.

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The Mumbai Police has registered an FIR against gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar and another person named Rohit Garg after an e-mail threatening actor Salman Khan was received at his office, a police official said. The e-mail, written in Hindi, said, “Goldy Bhai (Goldy Brar) wanted to talk with Salman Khan face to face to close the matter,” adding, “Agli baar, jhatka dekhne ko milega.”

The complaint was lodged by one Prashant Gunjalkar, who according to police frequently visits the Bandra-based residence of Khan and runs an artist management company. Gunjalkar noticed the email when he was present in Khan’s office in Galaxy Apartment on Saturday afternoon, the official said quoting the FIR. The email referenced a recent interview given by Bishnoi, in which he said that Salman should apologize to the Bishnoi community for killing a blackbuck.

“The goal of my life is to kill Salman Khan,” he said in the interview. Bishnoi, currently lodged in the Bathinda jail, and Goldy Brar are accused in the Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala murder case.

The FIR was registered under Sections 120B (punishment for criminal conspiracy), 506-II (Punishment for criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) under the Indian Penal Code. Security has been beefed up outside the actor’s residence and Salman has been advised to avoid on-ground activities.