Salman Khan firing: Mumbai crime branch submits over 1,700-page chargesheet against Lawrence Bishnoi, gang members

Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, his brother Anmol Bishnoi and key gang member Rohit Godhara have been shown as wanted accused in the case, said a crime branch official.

Police have also recorded statements of actor Salman Khan and his brother Arbaaz on June 4 to corroborate the sequence of events and their statements have been included in the chargesheet.

On the morning of April 14, four rounds were fired outside the actor’s Bandra residence. The crime branch later arrested six people from different states. According to the probe by the crime branch, the attack was carried out at the behest of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi who has threatened actor Salman Khan in the past as well.

Lawrence Bishnoi is currently in Sabarmati jail while his younger brother Anmol is suspected to be holed up in Canada.

Lawrence Bishnoi claims that he was targeting Salman Khan as the actor had shot dead blackbucks, revered by the Bishnoi community, in Rajasthan in 1998 during the shooting of his film ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’. Police claim Bishnoi is trying to gain popularity by threatening and attempting to attack a popular actor and thereby gain media attention.

Since the sections of stringent MCOCA Act are invoked against the accused, it will make it difficult for them to get bail, said police.

At a later stage the police are expected to seek custody of Lawrence Bishnoi to question him.

The police will also now move to get a Red Corner Notice issued against the other wanted accused who are currently abroad, as the chargesheet is filed against them.

Apart from this case, the Navi Mumbai Police, earlier this month, arrested five persons linked to Lawrence Bishnoi who planned to target the actor at his Panvel farmhouse.

The two groups – Mumbai and Panvel – prime facie appear to have been working independently of one another. The Navi Mumbai police have also filed chargesheet against the accused nabbed by them.