₹25 Lakh Contract to Kill Salman Khan, AK-47 Sourced From Pakistan: Chargesheet

Navi Mumbai Police have revealed a ₹25 lakh contract to assassinate Bollywood actor Salman Khan near his Panvel farmhouse, according to a chargesheet filed on Wednesday. The plot was orchestrated by a gang led by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, with plans to acquire sophisticated firearms from Pakistan.

The chargesheet, which names five individuals, details the gang's intent to buy advanced weapons, including AK-47s, AK-92s, M16s, and the Turkish-made Zigana handgun, which was used in the assassination of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. Police discovered that the accused had hired boys under 18 to carry out the hit on Salman Khan, with these individuals hiding in locations such as Pune, Raigad, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Gujarat.

Around 60 to 70 people were reportedly tracking Salman Khan’s movements, especially around his Bandra residence, Panvel farmhouse, and Goregaon Film City. The plan to assassinate the actor was reportedly in development from August 2023 to April 2024, the chargesheet said.

Investigators found that Sukkha, an associate arrested in Panipat, Haryana, assigned the task to a designated shooter, Ajay Kashyap, alias AK, and four other conspirators. After conducting a reconnaissance, the group concluded that due to the actor’s heavy security and bulletproof vehicles, high-end weaponry would be required to execute the assassination.

Sukkha reportedly connected with Pakistan-based arms dealer Dogar via a video call, showing AK-47 rifles wrapped in a shawl during negotiations. Dogar agreed to supply the weapons, while Sukkha arranged to make a 50% advance payment, with the rest to be paid upon delivery in India.

The chargesheet also highlighted the involvement of Canada-based gangster Goldie Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother, Anmol Bishnoi, who were allegedly waiting to give the final go-ahead. After the planned assassination, the conspirators intended to gather in Kanyakumari and escape to Sri Lanka by boat, eventually fleeing to a location beyond the reach of Indian law enforcement.

The conspiracy was uncovered during the police investigation of an earlier firing incident outside Salman Khan's Bandra home. Meanwhile, security around the actor’s residence has been heightened following the murder of NCP leader and former minister Baba Siddique, who was shot near Nirmal Nagar in Bandra.

The investigation continues as authorities work to bring all conspirators to justice.