Vadodara, April 15: The individual who allegedly sent a death threat to Bollywood actor Salman Khan via a police helpline has been traced to a village in Vadodara district, Gujarat, and has been diagnosed with mental illness, according to police officials.
The 26-year-old man, identified as Mayank Pandya, resides in a village in Waghodia taluka. He has not been arrested but has been issued a formal notice by the Mumbai Police, instructing him to appear for questioning if required. As per agency report, the threatening message was sent on Sunday through the WhatsApp helpline of Mumbai's traffic police, where the sender claimed he would bomb Salman Khan's car and attack him at his residence, despite the actor being under Y-plus category security.
Following the receipt of the message, the Worli Police in Mumbai registered a case under Section 351(2)(3) of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to criminal intimidation. Security around Khan's residence in Bandra was also intensified.
Vadodara District Superintendent of Police Rohan Anand informed reporters that the investigation traced the origin of the message to Waghodia taluka. Upon visiting the suspect’s house with assistance from the local police, it was revealed that Pandya was suffering from a mental illness and is currently undergoing treatment.
Authorities have confirmed that a notice was issued to Pandya, requiring him to present himself before the Mumbai Police if summoned. Officials stated that there is no immediate plan to arrest him due to his medical condition.
This incident follows a series of previous threats against Salman Khan, notably from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. In April last year, two unidentified individuals on a motorcycle fired four rounds outside Khan’s residence, Galaxy Apartments in Bandra. The threats reportedly stemmed from the actor’s alleged involvement in the blackbuck poaching case, with demands for a public apology to the Bishnoi community.
Subsequent to the firing incident, Navi Mumbai Police claimed to have uncovered a conspiracy by the Bishnoi gang to assassinate Khan during his travel to his farmhouse in Panvel. In response to ongoing threats, Salman Khan has been provided Y-plus security by the Mumbai Police.
