A recently filed chargesheet has uncovered a chilling plot to assassinate Bollywood actor Salman Khan, with a ₹25 lakh contract placed on his life. According to the report, members of the Bishnoi gang were behind the plan, which was intended to be executed either during one of his film shoots or when he left his farmhouse in Panvel.
Man Arrested for Conducting Reconnaissance
A man from Haryana was arrested by Navi Mumbai police on allegations that he had conducted surveillance of Salman Khan’s Panvel farmhouse earlier in February. The individual was part of a larger conspiracy to harm the actor. The police registered an FIR on April 24, revealing the plot to target Khan at his farmhouse, marking this as the second assassination attempt. The first attempt took place near Khan’s Bandra residence in Mumbai on April 14, when shots were fired outside.
₹25 Lakh Bounty Promised for Attack
According to the chargesheet, the person assigned to carry out the assassination was promised ₹25 lakh for the job, and the plan involved acquiring weapons from Pakistan. The gang intended to use highly advanced arms such as AK-47 and M16 rifles for the attack. However, the plot was foiled when senior inspector Nitin Thakare received critical intelligence about the group’s activities. This information led to the arrest of five individuals who were allegedly involved in the conspiracy, as reported by The Indian Express.
Arms Supplier from Haryana
Among those arrested was Sukhbir Balbir Singh, known by his alias Sukha. Sukha, an alleged arms supplier, had reportedly been in contact with a Pakistan-based individual named Dogar to source weapons for the attack. Sukha had been hiding in Panipat, Haryana, after changing his appearance by growing out his hair and beard. He had been evading the authorities for a while, but his luck ran out when the Navi Mumbai police discovered his location.
16 to 17 People Involved in Reconnaissance
The investigation revealed that a group of 16 to 17 individuals were involved in the reconnaissance operation at Salman Khan’s farmhouse. Some of them had been staying in the area since November 2023 to gather information and track the actor’s movements. In June, the police managed to arrest four individuals who were closely linked to the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. These individuals were identified as Dhananjay Tapesingh (alias Ajay Kashyap), Gaurav Bhatia (alias Nahvi), Vapsi Khan (alias Waseem Chikna), and Rizwan Khan.
Sophisticated Weapons from Pakistan
The chargesheet has detailed the intricate planning of the conspiracy, which spanned from August 2023 to April 2024. The accused were planning to smuggle sophisticated weapons from Pakistan, including AK-47 and AK-92 rifles, M16 rifles, and even the Zigana pistol, a Turkish-made gun that was used in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. The level of preparation involved in this assassination plot underscores its seriousness.
WhatsApp Group for Communication
The police also discovered that the gang had been coordinating their activities through a WhatsApp group. This group included 15 to 16 members, with some critical individuals such as Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother, Anmol Bishnoi, and other associates like Goldy Brar, Ajay Kashyap, Gaurav Bhatia, Cheena, and Javed Khan. The gang was meticulously planning the assassination, with regular updates and surveillance shared in this chat group.
60 to 70 People Monitoring Khan
Further investigation revealed that the conspiracy involved extensive surveillance of Salman Khan, with around 60 to 70 individuals keeping a close eye on his movements. The gang had left no stone unturned in their efforts to execute the plan, using every resource at their disposal to track the actor’s daily activities.
Lawrence Bishnoi’s Motivation
Salman Khan has been on Lawrence Bishnoi’s radar for several years now. Bishnoi’s motivation to target the actor reportedly stems from an incident in 1998 when Khan was accused of killing blackbucks, an animal considered sacred by the Bishnoi community, during the filming of a movie in Rajasthan. The charge sheet indicates that this personal vendetta has escalated over time, leading to the recent assassination attempts.
Conclusion
The detailed investigation and timely arrests have thwarted what could have been a tragic attack on one of Bollywood’s biggest stars. The involvement of the Bishnoi gang, sophisticated arms from Pakistan, and extensive reconnaissance highlight the dangerous level of planning behind this conspiracy. Thanks to the vigilance of Navi Mumbai police and crucial intelligence, the threat to Salman Khan’s life has been averted, at least for now. However, with Lawrence Bishnoi still active, the actor’s security will remain a top concern.
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