Police in India arrest two men accused of shooting at Bollywood star Salman Khan’s home

Mumbai police arrested two men accused of opening fire outside the home of Bollywood film star Salman Khan in Mumbai late on Monday.

The men were found in Bhuj, in the Indian state of Gujarat, where they had escaped. Police identified them as Vicky Gupta and Sagar Pal, both from Champaran, located in the eastern Indian state of Bihar.

Joint commissioner of police (crime), Lakhmi Gautam, told the Indian media that the men fled to Surat from Mumbai, and then made their way to Bhuj. “They are being brought to the city where they will be produced before the court. We will be interrogating the accused to find out who gave them the contract for the firing,” Mr Gautam told the Indian Express.

The men were on a motorbike when they opened fire outside Khan’s home on Sunday.

At least one of the men captured on CCTV was suspected to work for jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, sources in the Mumbai police told Indian media.

They reportedly shot a bullet towards Khan’s first-floor home in Galaxy Apartments in Bandra area which hit a wall next to the front balcony. They also fired a few shots in the air. The police found five bullet shells and a live round at the site, and a forensic analysis determined that the suspects used a 7.62-caliber weapon.

One of the accused is suspected to work for Bishnoi gang member Rohit Godara. Godara himself is wanted for the May 2022 murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, and is suspected of currently operating from Canada.

Khan, who is guarded by armed policemen, was home with his family when the gunshots were fired. No one was hurt.

The police patrol vehicle which was supposed to be stationed outside Khan’s Galaxy Apartments was not present at the time of the shooting, according to reports. The vehicle had been moved to a luxury hotel to be part of the security detail for cricketers playing in the Indian Premier League, police sources told Hindustan Times.

Police have also recovered their getaway vehicle, a motorbike, a little over a kilometre from Khan’s residence.

After the incident, Bishnoi’s brother Anmol Bishnoi took to Facebook to claim responsibility for the attack. “This is the first and last warning. After this, the firing will happen at your home,” the post added.

Police said they are investigating the post, which has now been removed.

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde contacted the actor and assured him of support and police security.

Khan received at least two threats from the Bishnoi gang in the past after the actor was accused in 1998 of killing a blackbuck in Rajasthan. Blackbuck is considered sacred by the Bishnoi community.