Songwriter arrested in India for threatening Salman Khan and demanding $592,465

Pasha sent multiple threatening messages to Salman Khan, claiming to be associated with notorious Bishnoi gang

MUMBAI:

A 24-year-old songwriter, Sohail Pasha, has been arrested for allegedly sending threatening messages to Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, demanding $592,465 from the actor.

The arrest follows a series of similar threats received by the actor over the past few months.

According to police reports, Pasha sent multiple threatening messages to Salman Khan, claiming to be associated with the notorious Bishnoi gang.

The songwriter, who had been working on a song for Khan’s upcoming film, reportedly used the threat as a means to gain attention for his work.

The police investigation revealed that Pasha had sent four such threats to Salman Khan during the past two months. This recent threat marks a continuation of a pattern of harassment that has plagued the actor for some time.

The police also mentioned that Pasha had hoped to use the high-profile nature of his target to further promote his song.

Salman Khan has long been a target of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has made repeated attempts on his life over the years.

Just days ago, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan also received similar threats, including demands for ransom.

These incidents reflect the growing security concerns faced by high-profile celebrities in India, particularly in the film industry.

Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about Pasha’s motives or his potential connections to criminal groups, though investigations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, this arrest comes as a relief to Khan and his family, who have previously dealt with several threats from various sources.

Despite the arrest, the frequency of such incidents has led to concerns about the safety of celebrities in India, with many calling for stronger protective measures.

In response to the threats, Indian authorities have stepped up their efforts to track down perpetrators, with past cases leading to arrests.

However, experts emphasise that more robust security measures and preventive actions are needed to ensure the safety of celebrities, particularly those who remain frequent targets of criminal organizations like the Bishnoi gang.

This latest arrest of Sohail Pasha highlights the increasing challenges in protecting public figures from criminal elements, and raises questions about the broader issue of celebrity safety in India’s entertainment industry.

Previously, Khan received threatening messages from the Lawrence Bishnoi group, demanding over $600,000 to end their feud.

The warning was sent via a WhatsApp message, stating that if the money is not paid, Khan’s fate “will be worse than that of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddiqui.”

The message indicated that the Bollywood star had previously been threatened with death by the Bishnoi group, and this latest threat was reported to the Mumbai traffic police.

The WhatsApp text cautioned, “Do not take this lightly. If Salman Khan wants to stay alive and end his feud with Lawrence Bishnoi, he must pay ₹50 million ($602,410). If the money is not paid, his condition will be worse than Baba

Khan has begun shooting for his upcoming film Sikandar on schedule, despite recent death threats from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.