Salman Khan vs Bishnois: How A 1998 Poaching Case Became A Gangster's Calling Card

A shooting incident occurred in Mumbai's Juhu area when gunmen opened fire at a car carrying actor Tiger Shroff as he was leaving a football ground. The actor escaped unhurt, but his driver and a vlogger who had come to film him were wounded. The attack quickly drew widespread attention, reviving fears of organised crime involvement in the film industry and linking back to a long-standing dispute between actor Salman Khan and jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

Following the attack, investigators detained or arrested multiple suspects across different operations. Kota Police detained three suspects travelling on the Pune-Jaipur Express—identified as Rehan alias Sukka, Hritik Kurmi alias Roshan, and a minor—who allegedly planned to travel to Jaipur and then escape toward Nepal. Preliminary questioning indicated links between one of the suspects and Anil Pandit, an individual associated with the Bishnoi network.

The incident forms part of a broader pattern of threats and violence directed at Bollywood figures connected to Salman Khan, whose rivalry with Bishnoi stems from a 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Rajasthan. Previous incidents linked by police or claimed by the Bishnoi network include gunfire outside Khan's home, the murder of politician Baba Siddique, and attacks involving other entertainment personalities in India and abroad. Mumbai police are investigating the authenticity of claims of responsibility and the wider network's involvement.

Authorities and former police officials have noted that modern criminal networks operate differently from historical Mumbai syndicates, leveraging social media and international connections to spread fear rapidly without needing a physical presence in the city. Investigations into the shooting and the alleged conspiracies remain ongoing.

Not yet reported: The reports do not specify the final legal charges filed in court against all detained suspects or whether weapons used in the Juhu shooting have been recovered.