Mumbai:

A new charge sheet filed against five accused of plotting to assassinate Bollywood actor Salman Khan has revealed chilling details. According to the Navi Mumbai Police, the accused, associated with the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang, have been charged with conspiracy to murder and other grave offences. 

On April 14, Two men on motorbikes fired multiple rounds outside Mr Khan’s residence in Bandra, leading to the arrest of several individuals.

According to the charge sheet, the Bishnoi gang had issued a contract worth Rs 25 lakh to assassinate the actor. The plan was hatched over several months, from August 2023 to April 2024. Investigations have revealed that the gang intended to acquire advanced firearms from Pakistan, including AK-47s, AK-92s, M16 rifles, and the Turkish-made Zigana pistol, the weapon used in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala on May 29, 2022.

The conspiracy wasn’t merely confined to acquiring weapons; it extended to a well-orchestrated surveillance operation. According to the charge sheet, a network of approximately 60 to 70 individuals was involved in tracking Mr Khan’s every movement. This extensive surveillance covered his residence in Mumbai, his Panvel farmhouse, and even the Goregaon Film City, where he often visited for film shoots.

The charge sheet claims that boys below the age of 18 were recruited to execute the assassination. These minors were reportedly waiting for orders from Goldie Brar and Anmol Bishnoi, key figures in the gang believed to be operating from North America, to initiate the attack.

A day after the shooting incident outside Mr Khan’s home, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met with the actor and assured all help.

“The government is with you, I have told Salman Khan. Both the accused have been arrested. They will be interrogated. We will get to the root of the case. Nobody will be spared. Nobody should targeted this way,” Eknath Shinde told reporters outside the actor’s home.

“No gang or gang war will be allowed. We won’t allow this to happen. We will finish (Lawrence) Bishnoi,” he added.

Mumbai:

Mumbai police have recovered an audio file which establishes a link between the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and the attackers who shot at actor Salman Khan’s house in April. Sources said that the audio file shows that Lawrence’s brother Anmol Bishnoi was in constant touch with the shooter.

The authenticity of this crucial evidence was verified through forensic analysis by the Central Investigation Agency.

During the investigation, Salman Khan recounted waking up to the sound of gunshots on April 14, initially mistaking them for a nightmare until he found a bullet lodged in his balcony.

The Mumbai Police’s crime branch, led by a senior officer, swiftly responded to the scene and initiated an investigation.

Police efforts have intensified with the questioning of witnesses and suspects alike, piecing together the intricate details of the plot. The involvement of a Pakistani arms supplier in arming the assailants with high-calibre weapons such as AK-47s and M-16s underscores the seriousness of the threat posed to the actor.

Based on the current investigation, police believe that the shooting was carried out by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang who has in the past made attempts to kill Salman Khan.

Lawrence Bishnoi, along with his Canada-based cousin Anmol Bishnoi and associate Goldie Brar, had reportedly acquired AK-47s, M-16s, and other high-calibre weapons from a Pakistani arms dealer. The plan was to either ambush the star’s car or attack his farmhouse, sources said.

Six men have been arrested after two men on a bike opened fire outside Salman Khan’s home on April 14. Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal were arrested in Gujarat, while Anuj Thapan and another man were detained in Punjab on April 26. Anuj Thapan died in police custody.

Mumbai:

The Navi Mumbai Police have uncovered yet another plot to assassinate Bollywood actor Salman Khan. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang had allegedly conspired to strike Mr Khan’s car in Maharashtra’s Panvel, armed with weapons sourced from a Pakistani arms supplier. 

The Navi Mumbai Police have registered an FIR and arrested four individuals linked to this conspiracy. This follows an incident on April 14, when two bike-borne men opened fire outside Mr Khan’s residence in Mumbai’s Bandra.

According to police sources, jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, alongside his Canada-based cousin Anmol Bishnoi and associate Goldie Brar, had reportedly acquired AK-47s, M-16s, and other high-calibre weapons from a Pakistani arms dealer. The plan was to either ambush Mr Khan’s vehicle or attack his farmhouse.

After the firing incident outside Mr Khan’s Bandra residence, police arrested four suspects: Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal were apprehended in Gujarat, while Anuj Thapan and another individual were detained in Punjab on April 26. In total, six arrests have been made, although Anuj Thapan died in police custody.

The circumstances of Thapan’s death have drawn significant scrutiny. The Bombay High Court has expressed frustration over the “incomplete” autopsy report presented, saying that it lacked vital details, such as a “diagram of the ligature mark” found on Thapan’s neck and information on any other potential injuries.

Thapan’s mother, Rita Devi, filed a petition on May 3, alleging that her son was physically assaulted and tortured in police custody, leading to his death on May 1 in a Mumbai crime branch lock-up. While the police maintain that Thapan died by suicide, Ms Devi’s petition calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident.