Second plot to target Salman Khan at Panvel farmhouse, 4 held

More than a month after two suspects fired shots outside actor Salman Khan’s Bandra residence, Navi Mumbai police disclosed on Saturday that another attempt on the actor’s life was planned while he was traveling to his Panvel farmhouse. Four individuals were arrested in connection with this case last week.

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi is believed to be involved in both cases in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Salman Khan has been on the radar of the gang after he shot a blackbuck during the shooting of a movie in Rajasthan in 1998 and has allegedly been receiving threats. Police believe that this is a bid by Bishnoi to gain a foothold in Mumbai and begin extortion in the city.

According to the police, nearly 16-17 people were involved in the Navi Mumbai operation and they had conducted a recce at Panvel in February this year.

Also Read: पुणे पोर्श एक्सीडेंट: आरोपी नाबालिग की मां भी गिरफ्तार; जांच के लिए बेटे की जगह अपना ब्लड सैंपल देने का आरोप

Four Arrested in Plot to Target Actor Salman Khan

“We have arrested four individuals in connection with the case. The suspects had been planning to target the actor for an extended period and had stayed in Panvel to conduct reconnaissance,” stated Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Pansare.

Regarding the attack in Mumbai, Pansare explained, “Bishnoi has multiple groups operating independently, and we believe one gang was conducting reconnaissance in Panvel while another was active in Mumbai.”

Those arrested by the Navi Mumbai Police have been identified as Dhananjay Tapesingh alias Ajay Kashyap, Gaurav Bhatia alias Nahvi, Vapsi Khan alias Waseem Chikna and Rizwan Khan.

Also Read: How to Quit Tobacco: A Guide for World No Tobacco Day 2024

Tip-Off Leads to Arrest of Bishnoi Gang Members in Panvel

As per the FIR, Panvel Senior Inspector Nitin Thakre had received a tip-off about members of the Bishnoi gang camping in Panvel to conduct a recce.

The police said Kashyap was also in touch with a Pakistan-based person identified as Dogar to purchase AK-47s that were to be used in the attack. After the attack, the accused were to go underground and reassemble in Kanyakumari from where they were to go to Sri Lanka, the police added.

An officer said that they are questioning the four arrested accused and checking if they have any links to the Bandra attack. The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested six accused accused in the Bandra case.