In a significant development in the Salman Khan house firing case, Mumbai Police arrested a vegetable seller from Jamshedpur for demanding a ransom of Rs 5 crore from the Bollywood superstar. The man, identified as Shaikh Hussain Shaikh Mausin, aged 24, was taken into custody on Wednesday after an investigation revealed his involvement in sending threatening messages.
The case has grabbed widespread attention, as Khan has been the target of repeated death threats from notorious gang members, particularly those associated with the infamous Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Threatening messages and demands
According to sources from PTI, Shaikh Mausin sent a message to the Mumbai traffic police control room on WhatsApp, demanding Rs 5 crore from Salman Khan. The message was purportedly sent by a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and included a direct threat to the actor’s life. The sender warned that Khan would meet the same fate as his close associate Baba Siddique, who had been killed by the gang.
The message raised alarms as it was linked to the ongoing feud between Salman Khan and the Bishnoi gang, a conflict that has been escalating in recent months. Salman Khan had already faced several threats to his life earlier this year, including an incident where rounds were fired outside his Bandra residence, Galaxy Apartments.
Apology and arrest
Interestingly, after the initial message demanding the ransom, a second message followed, in which the sender apologized, claiming that the earlier text had been sent by mistake and that there was no actual intent to harm the actor. Despite this retraction, the Mumbai Police took the threats seriously and acted swiftly.
Tracing the origin of the messages led the police to Jharkhand, where a team was dispatched to arrest Shaikh Mausin. An official close to the investigation stated, “He is being questioned by a team of Worli police. He will be brought to Mumbai for further action.” The investigation is ongoing, and the police are probing the extent of Mausin’s involvement with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang or whether he acted independently.
Lawrence Bishnoi’s feud with Salman Khan
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has had a long-standing animosity toward Salman Khan. The gangster, who is currently serving time in prison, has openly expressed threats to the actor due to Khan’s alleged involvement in the killing of a blackbuck, an animal revered by the Bishnoi community. The blackbuck poaching case, which dates back to 1998, has been a controversial chapter in Khan’s life, further fueling tensions with the gang.
Multiple incidents of threats and violence against Salman Khan have occurred, including the firing outside his Bandra home earlier this year. Several suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting, but the threats have continued, necessitating heightened security measures for the actor.
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Increased security for Salman Khan
Given the severity of these threats, Salman Khan’s security has been significantly tightened. According to a recent report in Hindustan Times, Khan’s manager confirmed that an additional 8 to 10 security personnel have been assigned to the actor’s protection. These personnel now conduct thorough investigations before Khan’s public appearances or movements, ensuring the actor’s safety amidst the ongoing threats.
Khan, who is currently working on AR Murugadoss’s film ‘Sikandar’, has continued with his professional commitments despite the looming danger. Although there have been minor adjustments to his schedule due to the threats, production on the film is expected to wrap up by January of next year, slightly delayed from its original timeline.
Ongoing investigation
The Mumbai Police continue to investigate the case, trying to establish whether the arrested vegetable seller, Shaikh Mausin, acted alone or was indeed connected to the larger network of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The Bishnoi gang’s involvement in threatening Salman Khan has been a major concern for law enforcement, and authorities are keen to clamp down on any further attempts to extort or harm the actor.
While this latest arrest brings some closure to the recent threatening messages, it highlights the persistent risks Khan faces due to his high-profile status and past controversies. The Mumbai Police, in collaboration with other agencies, are working to ensure that those behind these threats are brought to justice, and Salman Khan remains protected from any further attacks.
