MUMBAI: The Mumbai police on Tuesday arrested an individual, from Raipur in Chhattisgarh for allegedly threatening to kill Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan while demanding a hefty ransom of US $ 60,000 last week, Indian media reported.
The Indian Express reported that a senior Raipur police officer confirmed the arrest of Faizan Khan, 42, a lawyer by profession, saying he would be produced before a local court seeking his transit remand.
The police have not specified the accused’s motive behind the threat call to the renowned actor, however, they stepped up security cover outside Shah Rukh Khan’s home after the development.
Earlier, Faizan Khan claimed that his phone was stolen and someone else made the call to the Mumbai police and gave threats to frame him.
Zee News reported that Faizan Khan threatened the actor during a phone call on November 5 with death if the ransom was not paid.
Times of India in its report said the Bandra police managed to get a three-day remand of accused Faizan Khan till November 15. Faizan’s lawyer, Virat Verma told the paper that he was preparing a legal defence document. “Faizan had been getting threat calls of dire consequences for the past few days,” he said.
#WATCH | Raipur, Chhattisgarh: Mumbai's Bandra Police has arrested one Faizan Khan in connection with the case of threatening actor Shah Rukh Khan. Bandra Police has obtained three-day transit remand of Faizan Khan till 15th November and will take him to Mumbai for further probe. pic.twitter.com/phiZ8cAPRn
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2024
India Today reported that Faizan Khan had agreed to come to Mumbai on November 14 to record his statement to the Bandra police. However, as he received a lot of threats over the past two days, he requested the Mumbai Police Commissioner to record his statement virtually.
Meanwhile, Faizan Khan also filed a case against Shah Rukh Khan at Bandra police station, accusing him of inciting communal hostility.
“I hail from Rajasthan. The Bishnoi community is my friend. It is in their religion to protect deer. So, if a Muslim says something like this about deer, it is condemnable. Therefore, I raised an objection,” Faizan told reporters.
He claimed that his public criticism of Shah Rukh Khan might have contributed to the current situation.
It is pertinent to mention that the arrest of Faizan Khan follows a similar incident earlier this year involving actor Salman Khan. Two members of a notorious criminal gang, the Bishnoi were arrested for firing at Salman Khan’s home.
