A 32-year-old man from Rajasthan, identified as Bhikha Ram, also known as Vikram, was apprehended in Karnataka on Wednesday for allegedly threatening Bollywood actor Salman Khan. Officials confirmed that Vikram, a resident of Jalore, Rajasthan, sent a threatening message to Mumbai Police’s control room, demanding the actor pay ₹5 crore or face lethal consequences.
Haveri Superintendent of Police Anshu Kumar stated, “Based on information received from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), one person was apprehended in Haveri Town and handed over to them today.” The accused was reportedly residing in a rented room in Gowdar Oni, Karnataka, and working at construction sites.
Threat Message and Motivation
Sources reveal that Vikram was watching a regional news broadcast when he impulsively called Mumbai Police’s control room to issue the threat. Claiming to be a fan of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, the man demanded Salman Khan either apologize at their temple or pay a ₹5 crore sum to ensure his safety. He warned that if the actor did not comply, his gang would act on their threat.
The threat message reportedly stated, “If Salman Khan wants to stay alive, he should go to our temple and apologize or pay ₹5 crore. If he does not, we will kill him; our gang is still active.” In his initial call, the accused claimed he was Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother.
Investigation and Arrest
After tracing the origin of the call, the Worli Police tracked Vikram to Karnataka. Following his arrest in Haveri on Tuesday night, he was brought before a local court for transit remand, allowing authorities to transfer him to Mumbai for further investigation.
Police have confirmed that the interrogation and investigation will be handled by Mumbai Police, with the goal of uncovering further motives and any potential connections to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Salman Khan’s Recent Projects
Salman Khan, who has faced death threats previously, is currently occupied with filming for Bigg Boss 18 and working on his upcoming film Sikandar. Recently, he made a cameo appearance as his iconic character Chulbul Pandey in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again.
Sources By Agencies
