The two persons who allegedly fired at actor Salman Khan’s home at Bandra in Bombay on April 14, were arrested 95 kms. from Bhuj in Gujarat on April 16. A Bombay crime branch team led by police inspector Daya Nayak produced the two — Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal from Bihar — before the 37th metropolitan magistrate in Bombay.
The two arrested told the police that jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s brother, Anmol, had hired them as the Bishnoi family wanted to punish Salman for shooting dead a black buck in Mathania near Jodhpur (Rajasthan) in 1998. They were asked to intimidate the actor, for which they received around Rs. 1 lakh. A balance of Rs. 3 lakh was promised to the duo after the job.
The police are likely to move court to seek Lawrence Bishnoi’s police custody from jail and open a look out circular against Anmol who is based in Canada. Soon after the shootout incident, Anmol had claimed responsibility for the firing. According to the police, Anmol told Vicky and Sagar that if they succeeded in firing two full magazines of bullets into Salman Khan’s home, they would become famous and would also be suitably rewarded.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde visited Salman Khan’s residence on April 16 and assured him of protection. He told the actor and his family that stringent action would be taken against those involved in the firing. He also told them that he had instructed the city police commissioner to strengthen the security cover for Salman and his family.