Mumbai: The Bishnoi gang has once again come under the radar of law enforcement in Mumbai. Last year, the assassination of political leader Baba Siddique was linked to this notorious gang, leading to the arrest of over 25 individuals by the Mumbai Crime Branch. Additionally, actor Salman Khan's residence was targeted in a shooting incident, further highlighting the gang’s activities.
On March 29, acting on intelligence inputs, the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of the Mumbai Crime Branch apprehended five individuals near Platinum Hotel in Andheri. Authorities suspect that these individuals may have connections with the Bishnoi gang.
Plot to Kill a Prominent Industrialist Foiled?
According to sources, the arrested suspects had allegedly arrived in Mumbai to assassinate a well-known industrialist. However, police have not disclosed the identity of the intended target. The arrested individuals have been identified as:
Vikas Dinesh Thakur alias Vicky (24) – Resident of Humayunpur, Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh)
Sumit Kumar Dilawar (26) – Resident of Sonipat (Haryana)
Devendra Saxena (24) – Resident of Indore (Madhya Pradesh)
Shreyas Yadav (27) – Resident of Gopalganj (Bihar)
Vivek Kumar Gupta (22) – Resident of Alwar (Rajasthan)
During the operation, authorities recovered seven country-made pistols, 21 live cartridges, and two SIM cards. Vicky has a criminal record in Sendhwa, Uttar Pradesh, for illegal possession of firearms. Sumit Kumar has multiple cases registered against him in Haryana, including attempted murder, physical assault, and shooting-related offenses.
Possible Links to Salman Khan’s Threats?
Police are investigating whether the suspects were planning to exploit the Eid crowd to target a high-profile individual. Given that this operation was carried out just two days before the festival, authorities are also probing whether actor Salman Khan was once again on their radar. The investigation is ongoing to determine the extent of their involvement with the Bishnoi gang and any potential threats they might have posed to prominent figures in Mumbai.
