In a surprising turn of events, the accused in the recent shooting incident outside Salman Khan’s Bandra residence has claimed that the attack was not intended to cause harm to the actor. Instead, the assailants allegedly wanted to threaten Khan for not tendering an apology after killing a blackbuck, which is worshiped by the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan.
The firing, which occurred on April 14, 2024, was allegedly orchestrated by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, supervised by the gangster’s Canada-based brother Anmol Bishnoi, and executed by accused Vicky Kumar Gupta and Sagar Kumar Pal.
In his bail plea filed before the special MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) court, Gupta claimed that he is a victim of circumstances. He stated that when he lost his job during the Covid-19 pandemic, he contacted Pal for help, who then sent him to Jalandhar in Punjab to work as a driver. However, upon reaching there, Gupta was informed that he would have to visit Mumbai on an ‘auspicious religious mission’.
It was only after he reached Mumbai that Anmol Bishnoi called him and informed him of the plan to fire a few rounds at Salman Khan’s apartment, he said in his bail plea. Gupta added that he committed the crime because Anmol Bishnoi gave him ‘confidence that nothing will happen to him’ and his role was limited to riding the bike and ferrying Pal to Bandra, while Pal was the one who fired the rounds at Khan’s house.
The Mumbai police crime branch has been directed to reply to the bail application, and the matter has been posted for hearing on August 13.
The incident has once again highlighted the ongoing threats faced by Salman Khan from various gangsters, including Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, due to the actor’s alleged involvement in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. The Mumbai Police have tightened security around Khan’s residence and are investigating the matter further.