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The entertainment industry was shaken by the arrest of a 24-year-old songwriter, Sohail Pasha, from Mumbai for allegedly sending a death threat to Bollywood star Salman Khan. The incident came to light when the Mumbai traffic police's WhatsApp helpline received multiple threatening messages on November 7th. The messages claimed to be from a member of the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's gang and demanded Rs 5 crore from Salman Khan, threatening his life if the payment was not made. The Mumbai Police's Crime Branch immediately initiated an investigation into these serious threats.
Utilizing advanced technology, the police traced the phone number from which the threatening messages were sent. The number was found to be registered in Raichur, Karnataka. A police team was dispatched to Raichur to identify the owner of the number. Their investigation led them to a man named Vyankatesh Narayan, who claimed he had not sent the threatening messages. It was discovered that Narayan's phone lacked an internet connection, but police found evidence of a recent WhatsApp installation OTP (one-time password) on his phone. Further investigation revealed that a stranger had approached Narayan in a marketplace on November 3rd, requesting to borrow his phone for a call. It was during this time that the stranger installed WhatsApp on the phone using Narayan's number to receive the OTP.
The police then focused their attention on Sohail Pasha, who resided in the village of Manavi near Raichur. Pasha was identified as the writer of the song “Main Sikandar Hun,” which was mentioned in the threatening messages. Police suspect that Pasha, aiming to promote his song and gain notoriety, fabricated the threat as a means of attracting attention. By associating his song with a high-profile target like Salman Khan, Pasha hoped to achieve viral fame. After gathering sufficient evidence, the police apprehended Pasha and brought him to Mumbai. He was handed over to the Worli police station for further questioning. The police have noted that the Mumbai traffic police helpline has received at least four similar threats against Salman Khan in recent months. The police are continuing their investigation to uncover Pasha's full motives and determine if others were involved in this threatening scheme.
The case has highlighted the vulnerabilities of online platforms and the lengths some individuals might go to gain attention. It also underscores the importance of rigorous security measures to protect high-profile individuals from threats and harassment. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are committed to ensuring the safety of Salman Khan and preventing similar incidents in the future.