Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has once again found himself on the receiving end of a death threat once again. This time, police stated that an unidentified person sent a threat and demanded a sum of Rs 50 lakh.
The message comes amidst a number of death threats against actor Salman Khan, coupled with extortion demands to the tune of Rs 10 crore. The fresh threats against SRK, have sparked an intense investigation by the Mumbai Police, with clues leading them to Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Here’s a detailed look at the case and ongoing investigations.
The Threat Call
According to Mumbai Police officials, the threat was made through a phone call to the Bandra Police Station. The caller, according to PTI, demanded Rs 50 lakh and warned that Shah Rukh Khan would be killed if the ransom wasn’t paid. The caller, however, refused to reveal any personal identity, stating it was “irrelevant.”
A senior police official confirmed the threat, saying, “The Bandra Police Station received a call threatening Shah Rukh Khan and demanding Rs 50 lakh. An offence has been registered.”
Case Filed
Following the threat, the Police officials confirmed to ANI, that the Bandra Police registered a case under sections 308(4) (extortion involving threats of death or serious injury) and 351(3)(4) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
This follows a series of hoax threat messages against actor Salman Khan. over the past weeks, the police reportedly registered 5 cases against law-breakers and have successfully nabbed 4.
Investigation Leads to Raipur, Chhattisgarh
In the preliminary investigations into the SRK threat message, the Mumbai Police traced the call, to Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Investigators have been dispatched to multiple locations to track down the caller and gather further information. While the Mumbai Police have refrained from making any comments, Raipur police officials reported that their counterparts from Mumbai visited Raipur to issue a notice to a suspect, identified as Mohammad Faizan Khan, a lawyer whose phone number was linked to the call.
“Today, Mumbai Police visited Pandri Police Station to inform us that a crime had been registered at Bandra Police Station, where Shah Rukh Khan was threatened, and a demand for money was made. Mumbai Police issued a notice to the accused,” said City Superintendent of Police (CSP- Civil Lines) Ajay Kumar.
Further investigation revealed that the threat call was made on November 5 from a phone registered in Faizan’s name.
Faizan’s Statement
Speaking to reporters in Raipur, Faizan Khan claimed his innocence, claiming that his phone was stolen days ago. Addressing the media, he said, “My phone was stolen on November 2, and I lodged a complaint. On November 5, someone used it to threaten Shah Rukh Khan. Mumbai Police came to Raipur, questioned me for 1-2 hours, and have asked me to appear in Mumbai on November 14.”
Conspiracy Claim
Faizan, in a statement to the media, suggested that the threat call was part of a conspiracy, asserting, “Whoever has made a call from my phone, it seems intentional. I think it is a conspiracy against me.”
Faizan’s Complaint Against Shah Rukh Kha
This isn’t the first time Faizan has been involved in a case related to Shah Rukh Khan. He previously lodged a complaint against the actor for a dialogue in his 1994 film ‘Anjaam’. The lawyer reportedly found a dialogue objectionable due to its reference to deer hunting. Faizan said that he found the dialogue offensive, as the Bishnoi community holds deer in reverence. “The Bishnoi community (which is from Rajasthan) is my friend. It is in their religion to protect deer. So, if a Muslim actor says something like this about deer, it is condemnable. Therefore, I raised an objection,” Faizan said.
Security Measures
The threat against Shah Rukh Khan comes amid heightened concerns about the safety of Bollywood celebrities. Following a series of similar threats, Khan’s security was upgraded to Y+ earlier this year. This level of protection provides Khan with dedicated security personnel reportedly comprising of 6 security officers and 2 armed guards.
Visuals from outside Shah Rukh’s house show cops barricading the area, and not allowing fans to get close.
Shah Rukh was also advised to ditch tradition on his birthday this past weekend and avoid making public appearances. The actor, who usually stands on the gates of his house, Mannat, to greet fans, skipped the event this year to opt for a closed-door private celebration with his fans.
Fans Offer Support
Meanwhile, fans rallied to show their support for the Bollywood star, gathering near his residence and standing by his gates. Many also took to social media to express their concerns, urging the actor to prioritise the safety of himself and his family.
Shah Rukh Khan Receives Alleged Death Threats, Police Step Into Action | Watch