Bollywood Celebrities Targeted in Extortion Plot by Gangster Associates
In a disturbing development for India's film industry, police sources have revealed that at least five prominent Bollywood celebrities have received extortion calls from associates of fugitive gangster Shubham Lonkar. These threats are reportedly being made on behalf of the jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, creating a climate of fear within the entertainment community.
Silence from Victims Hinders Police Investigation
Despite these alarming threats, none of the targeted celebrities has come forward to lodge a formal complaint with authorities. This reluctance has significantly hampered police efforts to investigate the broader criminal network behind these extortion attempts.
A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed frustration at this situation: "What baffles us is that despite intelligence inputs suggesting multiple threat calls, no one has come forward to record a statement or file a complaint. If people expect police to act suo motu while withholding facts, it becomes extremely difficult."
Rohit Shetty Firing Incident Raises Concerns
The investigation gained urgency following the early Sunday morning firing incident at filmmaker Rohit Shetty's Mumbai bungalow. While Shetty himself has denied receiving any threat calls, police believe the shooting may have been intended to instill fear throughout the Bollywood industry.
This denial appears to contradict a social media post attributed to Shubham Lonkar, in which he claimed responsibility for the firing. The post, written in both Hindi and English, stated: "We, Shubham Lonkar, Aarzoo Bhishnoi, Hari Boxer, and Harman Shandu, take responsibility for the firing that took place today at film director Rohit Shetty's house in Mumbai."
Explicit Threats Against Bollywood Industry
The gang's message contained explicit threats: "We messaged him many times telling him not to interfere in our work, but he didn't understand. We've given him this small trailer. If he doesn't understand our message and doesn't listen to us, then the next bullet won't be fired outside his house, but inside his bedroom, right in his chest."
The warning extended to the entire film industry: "And this is a warning to the entire Bollywood industry: mend your ways while you still have time, otherwise, your situation will be very bad."
Nationwide Manhunt for Shooter
Multiple police teams have been deployed across several parts of the country to trace the shooter involved in the Shetty bungalow firing. Investigators believe that apprehending the gunman could help establish who ordered the attack and whether it was indeed connected to an extortion bid.
"At this stage, extortion appears to be the only plausible motive," a police officer confirmed, while noting that other investigative angles have not been completely ruled out.
Pattern of Targeting Bollywood Figures
This incident follows a pattern of the Bishnoi gang targeting Bollywood personalities. In the previous firing outside actor Salman Khan's house, the gang claimed they were seeking revenge for the killing of a blackbuck, an animal considered sacred by the Bishnoi community.
Similarly, standup comedian Munawar Faruqui was targeted because he allegedly hurt the community's sentiments during one of his performances. After the murder of Baba Siddiqui, the gang alleged he was close to Salman Khan and had links to Dawood Ibrahim.
The gang has also claimed vengeance for the death of their associate Anuj Thapan in police custody. Thapan had been arrested in connection with the firing incident at Salman Khan's residence.
The combination of explicit threats, actual violence, and victims' reluctance to cooperate with authorities has created a complex security challenge for Mumbai police as they attempt to protect Bollywood's elite from organized crime elements.
