Salman Khan Firing Case: Actor Describes Waking Up To Gunshots

Mumbai Police on Wednesday recorded the statement of Bollywood actor Salman Khan in connection with the incident of firing outside his residence in April.

The actor was asked 150 questions, where he informed the police that he was home on the day of the incident and had slept late after a party. The sound of a bullet which hit his flat's balcony awoke him. The actor said that after he was jolted out of his bed he went to the balcony and looked outside but failed to spot anyone.

Additionally, the police have also questioned Salman Khan's younger brother, Arbaaz Khan. Arbaaz, who was at his Juhu residence at the time of the firing, in his statement to the police, said, "Earlier, someone left a threatening note which was found outside their house and Bishnoi gang members conducted recce at their Panvel farmhouse. This is the third incident, and the police should take it seriously."

Due to old age, Salmin Khan's statement was not recorded, but it was made clear by sources that the crime branch will record his statement if required.

Police claim the two bike-borne shooters, hired by Lawrence Bishnoi's gang, had conspired to kill Khan, and on April 26th, police arrested four suspects: Vicky Gupta, 25; and Sagar Kumar Pal, 24; arrested in Gujarat, while Anuj Thapan, 32; and another individual were detained in Punjab. So far, the police have arrested six accused.

A month after the incident, the police arrested the sixth suspect, Harpal Singh, also known as Harry, 25; from Haryana. He was involved in financing the shooters.
Anuj Thapan, who was in the custody of the Crime Branch, committed suicide on May 1st.

Sonu Subhashchandra Bishnoi, 37; from Punjab, was also imprisoned. According to police reports, Thapan and Sonu Bishnoi met Gupta and Pal in Panvel on March 15th, issuing
them with two pistols and 38 live rounds, which were wielded in the firing incident at Khan's apartment.

Choudhari had been in contact with Rohit Godara, a trusted associate of Lawrence Bishnoi, and had recorded Salman's house on April 12th. The crime branch has confiscated Choudhari's phone and recovered numerous deleted videos and photos. Further questioning disclosed Choudhari receiving Rs 3 lakh in cash from a member of the Bishnoi gang, out of which he distributed Rs 2 lakh to Vicky Gupta and Sagar Kumar Pal.

According to police sources, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang had conspired to strike Mr Khan's car in Maharashtra, armed with Pakistani-supplied weapons. Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, with his Canada-based cousin Anmol Bishnoi and associate Goldie Brar, had acquired AK-47s, M-16s, and other superior weapons. The plan was to either ambush Khan's vehicle or attack his farmhouse.

"If Salman himself apologizes, the Bishnoi society will consider the apology. The mistake was not made by Somy Ali, but it was committed by Salman," President of the All India Bishnoi Society, Devendra Budiya, told IANS, as quoted by Pinkvilla. "Therefore, he should propose to the Bishnoi society that he wants to apologize.

He should come to the temple and seek forgiveness. He should further take an oath that he will never make such a mistake in the future and will always work to protect wildlife and conserve the environment. If he does this, a decision of the society to forgive him will be considered," he declared.