Bollywood Under Siege – From Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments to Ranveer Singh’s Rs 20 Crore Threat, How the Underworld Tightened Its Grip

By

Tanveer Zaidi

The voice note landed on Vijay Subramanian’s phone like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. It was February 10, barely a week after gunfire had echoed outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Juhu residence, and now the manager of one of Bollywood’s big stars, Ranveer Singh, was listening to a chilling demand: Rs 20 crore, or else.

The caller identified himself as Harry Boxer. He claimed to be an operative of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. And he made it clear that this was not an idle threat.

“He said Ranveer Singh had gone back on his word,” a police officer familiar with the investigation would later reveal. “The message warned that if they did not comply, the next seven generations would remember the consequences.”

What followed over the next two weeks would expose a coordinated intimidation campaign that has left Bollywood shaken and law enforcement agencies scrambling to protect some of the industry’s most prominent figures.

But to understand how the industry reached this precipice, one must trace the trail of bullets, threats, and fear that began years ago.

Hari Chand Jaat, known to the underworld as Harry Boxer, did not start life as a gangster. A native of Narayanpur in Rajasthan and the son of a farmer, he was once a boxing coach in Jaipur, training young pugilists in the sweet science.

But somewhere along the way, the gloves came off, and the ring gloves were replaced by something far more sinister.

His parents disowned him after he allegedly veered into criminal activities. By 2022, he had fled India, establishing himself abroad while continuing to orchestrate crimes back home.

Today, authorities believe he operates from Canada, though his communications often route through encrypted channels and international numbers that make tracing difficult.

Boxer’s rap sheet reads like a criminal encyclopedia: multiple cases of extortion, robbery, and attempted murder registered against him in Rajasthan, Punjab, and Delhi.

He is said to be close to Goldy Brar’s associate Godara, though the underworld’s loyalties shift like desert sands—there was reportedly an attack on Boxer and his associates in California in October 2025, allegedly plotted by Godara himself, in which one member was killed.

When Subramanian stopped taking the calls from the international number beginning with +340—a country code linked to the Virgin Islands—Boxer switched tactics. He left three voice notes instead, each more menacing than the last.

The first audio clip, sent on February 2, demanded: “over Rs 10 crores.” Boxer told the manager to verify his voice on YouTube if he doubted the caller’s identity.

The message did not mention the recent firing outside Rohit Shetty’s residence, even though it was sent just a day after that incident—a detail that investigators found curious.

But the second wave of messages left no room for ambiguity.

“Ranveer Singh tu kuch baat bolke mukhar gaya na thik hai,” the voice growled. “Ya to tu us baat par vapas aaja, isliye nahi to mukharne ki saja kya hoti hai voh tujhe batayenge.”

(Ranveer Singh, you backed out after saying something, right? That’s fine — either you revert to your statement, or we will show you what the punishment for backing out is.)

Then came the warning that sent chills through the industry: “Rohit Shetty aur tu line par aja… Aur puri Bollywood ko bol rahein hain.”

(You and Rohit Shetty should fall in line. And we are telling the entire Bollywood as well.)

The message claimed responsibility for a firing incident in Portugal, attempting to establish the gang’s international reach. But it was the detailed knowledge of the stars’ inner circles that most alarmed investigators.

“We have complete details of every manager and every person who works with you,” the voice note continued.

“Where do they live. When they leave the office. When they return. Where their families stay. We will not tell you anything. We will start targeting the people working under you. Then you will come to your senses.”

For days, Mumbai Police moved cautiously. They recorded Subramanian’s statement, sent the voice notes for forensic examination, and traced the VPN networks that masked the caller’s location.

Then, on February 17, they received confirmation from Punjab and Haryana Police: the voice was indeed Harry Boxer’s.

That same day, the Mumbai Crime Branch’s south region cyber cell, working alongside the anti-extortion cell, registered a formal First Information Report against Boxer.

And on February 23, they issued a Look Out Circular, ensuring that if the fugitive gangster attempted to enter India, authorities would be waiting.

But Boxer is just one piece of a much larger puzzle—a puzzle that began taking shape years ago, with a superstar, a blackbuck, and a grudge that would not die.

To understand why Bollywood has become a target, one must go back to 1998. That year, Megastar Salman Khan was filming ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’ in Rajasthan when he allegedly hunted two blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur.

The blackbuck is considered sacred by the Bishnoi community, and the incident placed Salman Khan in the crosshairs of Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang for life.

For years, the threats remained just that—words. But in 2022, they took a more sinister turn. Salman Khan received his first major threat letter, followed by emails and phone calls that were duly reported to the police.

Each time, security was heightened, and each time, the industry hoped the menace would fade.

It did not.

In April 2024, the gang crossed a line that sent shockwaves through the nation. Two men on a motorcycle approached Galaxy Apartments in Bandra, Salman Khan’s iconic residence, and fired multiple rounds outside the building late at night.

The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility through a social media post, calling it a “warning.” The message was clear: no one was untouchable.

Two Bishnoi gang members were arrested in connection with the case, and one of the biggest superstars of the plane,t Salman Kh, has been under intense surveillance ever since. But the net was widening, and the next target would be someone even closer to him.

October 12, 2024, began like any other evening in Bandra East. Former Maharashtra minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique stepped out of his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office after meeting party supporters. It was just past 9:30 PM.

What happened next would become one of the most brazen political assassinations in recent memory.

Two assailants, later identified as Gurmail Baljit Singh and Shivkumar Gautam, opened fire at close range. Six rounds were discharged. Three bullets struck Siddique.

Two hit his vehicle. A pedestrian was injured.

The 66-year-old politician was rushed to Lilavati Hospital in an unresponsive condition—no pulse, no cardiac activity, massive blood loss from chest wounds. Despite desperate attempts to revive him, he was declared dead at 11:27 PM.

The motive, according to prosecutors, was twofold, and both reasons sent chills through Bollywood.

First, Siddique’s perceived proximity to Salman Khan. The two had been close friends for decades, with Siddique hosting lavish Iftar parties that drew the industry’s biggest names.

His Bandra home was often visited by the Khan family. In the eyes of the gang, that friendship was a liability.

Second, the murder was framed as revenge for the death of Anuj Thapan, a key figure who died by suicide in custody after opening fire outside Salman Khan’s residence in April 2024.

A Facebook post by Bishnoi’s alleged aide, Shubham Lonkar (also known as Shubham Lonkar), surfaced on social media shortly after the murder.

It read: “Salman Khan, we did not want this war, but you made our brother lose his life. Today, the pool of decency of Baba Siddique is closed.

The post also sent a broader warning: “We have no personal enmity with anyone. However, anyone who helps Salman Khan should be prepared. If anyone gets any of our brothers killed, we will respond. We never strike first.”

On February 10, 2026, a special court framed charges against 27 accused in the Siddique murder case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.

The trial is set to begin on February 24. Among those charged is gangster Anmol Bishnoi, who was brought back to India from the United States in November 2025.

Zeeshan Akhta,r alias Jassi Purewal, another key operative accused of coordinating the shooters, was detained by Surrey Police in Canada in June 2025, with extradition proceedings underway.

But even as the legal process grinds forward, the gang’s operations continue unabated. The message from Baba Siddique’s murder was unmistakable: anyone close to Salman Khan was now a target.

February 1, 2026, began like any other day at Shetty Tower, the 10-storeyed Juhu residence of filmmaker Rohit Shetty.

But by nightfall, the building would become the scene of a brazen attack that shattered the peace of the upscale neighbourhood.

At approximately 9:30 PM, 24-year-old Deepak Ramesh Chandra Sharma approached the building on a scooter.

He pulled out a 7.62 bore semi-automatic pistol and fired five rounds into the air outside the director’s home. Then, as quickly as he had appeared, he fled into the night.

The scooter was found abandoned outside Vile Parle railway station. The trail led to Kalyan, then to Agra, then to Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Noida.

Ten police teams fanned out across the country, following CCTV footage and questioning auto and taxi drivers. By February 16, they had arrested seven more suspects, bringing the total to twelve.

The investigation revealed a disturbing portrait of young men drawn into the underworld’s web. Most were school or college dropouts.

They were fond of making reels on social media, some featuring weapons. They had met each other in jail, then came in touch with an alleged associate of Shubham Lonkar named Golu Pandit.

They agreed to take up the job because they wanted to become famous in the world of crime.

Deepak Sharma, the shooter, had been offered Rs 15 lakh for the job. He received Rs 50,000 in advance.

The remaining Rs 14.5 lakh would never reach him—the police arrested him before payment could be made. Interrogation revealed that Sharma was carrying about Rs 8 lakh in debt and desperately needed money.

Shubham Lonkar, who allegedly masterminded the shooting, remains at large. He is also wanted in connection with the Baba Siddique murder.

The Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility through a social media post, once again demonstrating their ability to strike at will.

As the investigation into the Shetty firing continued, the threats began pouring in for other celebrities.

On February 3, Aayush Sharma, Salman Khan’s brother-in-law and an actor himself, received a threatening email through Proton Mail, an end-to-end encrypted service that offers anonymity by masking user identity.

The sender claimed ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and demanded money in dollars. Police suspect the email may be a hoax—unlike the voice notes from Boxer, which have been verified—but they are not taking any chances.

“We have provided security in cases where people have received threats and have intimated us about the same,” a police officer told the media.

“In several cases, however, those receiving threats do not come forward, and it is difficult to keep tabs since most of these are VoIP calls.”

The threats have even reached Canada, where comedian Kapil Sharma’s newly opened Kap’s Café in Surrey became the target of gunfire on February 5. It was the second shooting at the establishment in less than a month—the earlier attack happened on July 10, 2025.

This time, the shooting occurred just one day after threats were made against Bollywood personalities working with Salman Khan.

In an audio clip circulated online, a man identifying himself as Harry Boxer claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened that “any producer, director, or actor who works with Salman Khan will be shot.”

The gang would go to any length, the message warned, to “kill small-time producers, directors, and actors” who collaborated with the ‘Sultan’ actor. “Anyone who works with him will be responsible for their own life.”

Harjeet Singh Laddi, also known as Laddi Khalistani, an operative of the banned terror group Babbar Khalsa International, separately claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was in response to remarks about Nihang Sikhs’ attire made on Sharma’s show.

The overlapping claims of responsibility highlight the complex web of criminal and extremist elements now targeting the entertainment industry.

As the threats multiplied, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees reached out to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, requesting an urgent meeting.

On February 14, leading film industry bodies—including the Producers Guild of India, Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association, Indian Film and Television Producers Council, Western India Film Producers’ Association, and FWICE—convened at the IMPPA office in Andheri.

Those present included Guild members Nitin Tej Ahuja and Shibashish Sarkar, along with FWICE president BN Tiwari and senior representatives from other bodies.

“This is no longer about isolated incidents. There is a palpable sense of fear. When leading actors and directors receive threats, the anxiety trickles down to every unit member, from spot boys to assistant directors,” a source told the media.

The bodies resolved to draft a joint letter to the Chief Minister seeking immediate intervention. “We will collectively urge the state to ensure protection not just for high-profile celebrities, but for entire film units. Shoots involve hundreds of daily wage workers. Their safety cannot be compromised,” an insider said.

The source added, “If there is disruption due to fear or extortion, it directly impacts the livelihoods of workers on set. These are regular people trying to make an honest living. Films will be impacted because fear will drive people out of the industry.”

Security around Ranveer Singh’s residence has been heightened. The actor has been advised to exercise caution while travelling for film shoots.

At the Bea Monde residential tower in Prabhadevi, where Ranveer Singh lives with Deepika Padukone, the society managing committee approached the Dadar police regarding the deployment of armed private security guards within the building.

In a letter, the society members complained that armed guards carry firearms in common areas such as the lobby, causing concern among other residents. A uniformed police officer has now been stationed at the building.

Meanwhile, the investigation continues.

Police are examining the role of overseas handler Arzoo Bishnoi, who allegedly guides shooters and provides logistics from outside India. Arzoo’s name appeared in the social media post released after the firing at Shetty’s bungalow.

With Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol behind bars, operatives like Harry Boxer and Shubham Lonkar are allegedly running the gang’s activities from abroad.

They communicate through encrypted apps like Signal, coordinate attacks across international borders, and exploit young men desperate for money or fame.

Investigators are also checking whether the Goldy Brar faction, which parted ways with the Bishnoi gang, is linked to any of the extortion messages targeting celebrities.

Police suspect the Bishnoi gang is trying to fill the vacuum left behind after earlier gangs operating in the city—from Dawood Ibrahim to Chhota Rajan—were eliminated over the years.

The extortion of Bollywood, long considered off-limits due to the industry’s political connections and public profile, now appears to be fair game.

As the trial in the Baba Siddique murder case prepares to begin on February 24, and as the Look Out Circular against Harry Boxer circulates through every port of entry, one question haunts Bollywood: Who will be next?

The threats against Ranveer Singh and Rohit Shetty, the murder of Baba Siddique, the shooting at Kapil Sharma’s café, the relentless targeting of Salman Khan and his family, the Galaxy Apartments firing, the years of threat letters and emails and phone calls—each incident builds upon the last, creating a tapestry of terror that has fundamentally altered the landscape of the Indian film industry.

For now, the cameras continue to roll. The stars continue to shine. But beneath the glitter, there is a new awareness: that in the eyes of organised crime, celebrity is no longer just a status—it is a target.

As the voice note from Harry Boxer warned, the entire Bollywood industry has been told to “fall in line.” The question is whether law enforcement can rise to the challenge before more lines are crossed.

—About the Writer:

Tanveer Zaidi is an accomplished Actor, Author, and educator with over two decades of experience in the Indian entertainment industry.