Salman Khan Death Threat Accused From Vadodara Identified Mentally Ill & Under Medical Care

The Worli Police detained a 26-year-old man from Vadodara, Gujarat for allegedly sending a death threat to Salman Khan through a WhatsApp message. The accused, identified as Mayank Pandya, was interrogated by a police team but later released with a notice, as he was found to be mentally unstable, police said on Tuesday.

Following an investigation, the Mumbai police learnt the threat message was sent by a person living in Waghodia taluka of Vadodara, district Superintendent of Police Rohan Anand told reporters. "A team of Mumbai police, accompanied by Waghodia police, reached the suspect's house at a village in Waghodia on Monday. However, it turned out that the 26-year-old man, who had sent the message, is mentally unstable and undergoing treatment," Anand said.

"The Mumbai police served him a notice for appearance and left," the official added.

As per the notice, the accused has to appear before the Mumbai police for investigation whenever required, another official said.

According to police sources, Pandya sent a threatening message to the Mumbai Traffic Police's WhatsApp helpline, stating, “We will enter your house and kill you," and also threatened to plant a bomb in Salman Khan’s car. While the message did not mention the Bishnoi gang by name, its tone was reportedly similar to previous threats received by the actor.

The threatening message was allegedly sent at around 6:30 AM on April 13. Based on the content of the message, the Worli police registered an FIR under sections 351(2) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). 

The security was heightened around the actor as well as his Galaxy Apartments residence in Bandra.

Salman Khan has faced multiple threats in the past. Khan previously faced threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which warned him of consequences if he did not apologise to the Bishnoi community over the alleged killing of a blackbuck.

Following these threats, the Mumbai police provided him with Y-Plus security.