Mumbai :Another individual linked to the Salman Khan shooting incident was apprehended from Haryana on Wednesday night, according to police sources. This person allegedly acted as a mediator between the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and the detained shooters, Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Kumar Palak (21), who are currently in police custody.
The incident took place on Sunday at 4:55 am outside Galaxy Apartments in Mumbai’s Bandra, where the actor resides. Two assailants on a motorcycle fired five shots and fled the scene.
Sagar Kumar Palak, one of the suspects, reportedly obtained a firearm just hours before the shooting, sourced from the Bandra area on the night of April 13. However, the identity of the supplier remains undisclosed, as per police statements. Both suspects hail from West Champaran in Bihar and were apprehended by Mumbai Police from a temple premises in Gujarat’s Kutch district late Monday night.
Police sources claim that Palak and his associate Vicky Gupta were allegedly offered ₹4 lakh to carry out the shooting, with an initial payment of ₹1 lakh. The Mumbai Crime Branch officials stated that the objective was not to kill Mr. Khan but to intimidate him.
According to a Mumbai Crime Branch official quoted by news agency ANI, the suspects conducted surveillance of Salman Khan’s farmhouse in Panvel. Their intention was reportedly to intimidate rather than harm him. Statements from both families have been recorded in Bihar, and around seven individuals from Haryana and other states have been summoned for questioning, which is ongoing.
The Mumbai Crime Branch is also scheduled to record Mr. Khan’s statement as a witness in the case.
Yesterday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met with the actor to assure him of all necessary assistance.
“I have assured Salman Khan that the government stands by him. Both suspects have been arrested and will be interrogated. We are committed to uncovering the truth behind this incident,” Eknath Shinde told reporters outside the actor’s residence.
“We will not tolerate any gang-related violence or wars. We will take action against those involved. We are determined to dismantle the Lawrence Bishnoi gang,” he added.
Last year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) revealed that Mr. Khan was among the top 10 targets planned for elimination by incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. This plan was allegedly motivated by the actor’s involvement in the 1998 black buck hunting incident, which was perceived as an affront to the Bishnoi community by the gangster.
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