Trigger warning: This article contains references to gunfire, shooting and murder. Readers are advised to use discretion.
It’s been over three months since India heard the shocking news of the shootout at Salman Khan’s house in Mumbai’s Bandra on April 14. The superstar later recorded his statement claiming that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang opened fire at his house. In the latest development in the Salman Khan house shootout case, one of the accused has claimed that he was influenced by Bishnoi.
Vicky Gupta, an accused in the case, on Monday filed a bail plea before a special court constituted under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA Act) in Mumbai. According to a PTI report, Gupta has said in his plea that he is inspired by the “principles” followed by Lawrence Bishnoi in his life.
The accused alleged that Bishnoi, who is lodged in Sabarmati jail, has been wrongly named in the case. The gangster has no role in the firing incident.
Gupta further said that the shots were fired at Salman Khan only to “raise suspicion” in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. The accused alleged that he did not receive any call from Lawrence Bishnoi.
The shooter claimed that he belonged to a remote village in Bihar and had lost his job in Tamil Nadu during the Covid-19 pandemic. He later contacted co-accused Sagar Pal.
The accused said he was under debt “due to which the applicant committed the crime.” Reportedly, the accused also said there was no intention to harm Khan in the firing incident.
According to the Indian Express, the bail plea filed through advocates Amit Mishra and Pankaj Ghildiyal stated that the applicant was influenced by Lawrence Bishnoi’s social media. It also mentioned that he was “magnetically attached” to the principles of Bishnoi who was an “ardent follower of Shri Bhagat Singh”.
The plea said that his co-accused Sagar had informed him about coming to Mumbai for an “auspicious religious mission”. The bail plea applicant was “in dire need of money to maintain his family” and had come to the city. The plea further said that he “had no knowledge of the alleged incident” until April 13.
In early July, the Mumbai Crime Branch filed a 1,735-page chargesheet, a copy of which was accessed by India Today. According to the chargesheet, Salman recorded his detailed statement in the firing case at his home. In his statement, the superstar claimed that he heard a sound like firecrackers when two gunmen opened fire at his Galaxy apartment in Bandra.
The 58-year-old actor later confirmed the shootout through his guards in the morning. He also admitted Lawrence Bishnoi’s involvement in the case, saying he carried out the shootout with the help of his gang members.
The superstar also expressed concern for his family members who were sleeping during the incident. He said that the shooters were “planning” to kill him and his family and hence, they planned and executed the attack.
Both the accused were arrested from Gujarat for the alleged firing at Salman’s residence.
Talking about work, Salman Khan is gearing up for his upcoming film Sikandar. Directed by AR Murgadoss, the film will release on Eid 2025. It is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. He was last seen in Tiger 3.
Also read: Salman Khan reacts to firing incident at home; says he feels ‘Lawrence Bishnoi and his gang were planning to kill him and his family’
