13 Arrests Later, Ayushmann Faces Bishnoi Extortion Call

The wave of extortion threats linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has reached another A-list name. Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has reportedly received an extortion call from someone claiming to belong to the jailed gangster’s network and demanding crores of rupees, according to a report in The Times of India.

What investigators are verifying

Police are now examining the recording and comparing the caller’s voice with samples already available in their records. The verification matters because a similar threat to actor Tusshar Kapoor has already thrown up a twist.

Tusshar recently received a threatening audio message from someone who identified himself as “Harry Boxer.” The Crime Branch’s technical team compared that audio with official voice samples of Harry Boxer in its database. Senior police sources said the voices did not match, as reported by NDTV. That has raised suspicion that the caller may have been impersonating a Lawrence Bishnoi gang member to make the threat credible and demand money.

From shooting to security overhaul

The extortion calls are part of a wider pattern of alarm. On October 18, a firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff took place in Mumbai’s Juhu area while he was travelling in his car. Shroff escaped unhurt, but his driver and a passerby were injured. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Police have named Anil Pandit, an aide of jailed gangster Bishnoi, as a wanted accused. So far, 13 people, including the alleged shooters, have been arrested in the case. Investigators have also found that the shooters allegedly carried out reconnaissance at the residences of Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar.

Bollywood adds a layer of caution

The chain of incidents has pushed celebrities to reassess their personal security. Actor Ronit Roy, who also runs a private security company, confirmed that more stars are seeking stronger protection.

“Yes, there has been a demand to increase security cover among celebs. It’s all preventive in nature. Everyone wants to be careful and feel protected.”

Amitabh Bachchan’s customary Sunday appearance outside his Juhu home reflected the mood: he greeted fans from behind a bulletproof glass enclosure, with son Abhishek Bachchan keeping an eye on the arrangements.

• Ayushmann Khurrana is the newest star reportedly targeted with an extortion call.
• A voice mismatch in Tusshar Kapoor’s case points to possible impersonation.
• Thirteen arrests and reports of reconnaissance have put the industry on alert.

Source: The Times of India