Salman Targeted in Fake Extortion Plot
Accused allegedly fabricated gang threats
Mumbai Police have reportedly busted an extortion plot targeting Salman Khan, with a man accused of fabricating WhatsApp chats and fake identities to make it appear that an organised crime gang was threatening the actor.
According to reports, discrepancies in the chats and CCTV footage led to the accused allegedly confessing that he had fabricated the threats to scare Salman and extort money. Two mobile phones were recovered near the Bandra seafront, while screenshots of the fake chats were also seized.
The accused reportedly received around Rs 1.30 lakh from Siwan in Bihar via PhonePe before collecting the money in cash through a money transfer agent in Bandra.
The accused has been booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. The investigation is underway to determine whether he acted alone or whether others were involved.
The development comes amid a series of threats previously received by Salman from alleged Lawrence Bishnoi gang members in connection with the blackbuck case. Security around the actor was stepped up after gunshots were fired outside his residence last year.