Mumbai: In a significant breakthrough, Navi Mumbai Police, in collaboration with their counterparts in Panipat, arrested Sukhbir Balbir Singh, alias Sukha, a notorious shooter and a core member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, early Thursday morning. Sukha, wanted in multiple cases, is one of the prime suspects in the alleged assassination plot against Bollywood actor Salman Khan. He had reportedly conducted reconnaissance of Khan's Panvel farmhouse as part of a plan to attack the actor.
Sukha's name surfaced during an investigation into a failed plot to assassinate Salman Khan at his Panvel farmhouse. The conspirator had been on the run for months, evading multiple law enforcement agencies before his location was finally traced to the Abhinandan Hotel in Panipat’s Sector 29. Navi Mumbai Police obtained a two-day transit remand from a Panipat court and have since moved Sukha to Mumbai for further investigation.
According to the chargesheet filed against five accused individuals, the Navi Mumbai Police revealed that the Bishnoi gang had placed a ₹25 lakh contract on the life of Salman Khan.
The chargesheet detailed that the planning to kill Salman Khan took place between August 2023 and April 2024. It was also revealed that around 60 to 70 individuals were tracking Khan’s movements at his Mumbai home, Panvel farmhouse, and Goregaon Film City.
Sukha's involvement in the conspiracy goes beyond that of a mere hired gun. Investigators disclosed that he is the sixth suspect arrested in the plot, joining five others previously apprehended. Sukha was reportedly involved with shooters of approximately 17 young men, mostly aged between 18 and 20, all of whom were part of this alarming plan to eliminate the Bollywood star.
According to the chargesheet, the conspiracy developed between August 2023 and April 2024. Police revealed that Sukha played a key role in acquiring sophisticated firearms. The gang sought to procure advanced weaponry from Pakistan, including AK-47s, AK-92s, M16 rifles, and the Turkey-made Zigana pistol, which was notoriously used in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.
Investigators also discovered that Sukha had delegated the assassination task to a designated shooter, Ajay Kashyap, alias AK, along with four others involved in the plot. Kashyap and his team conducted reconnaissance of Salman Khan’s farmhouse, carefully assessing the actor's security measures. They determined that high-end weapons would be necessary to carry out the assassination due to the actor’s tight security and bulletproof vehicles.
Further investigations uncovered Sukha's direct connection to Dogar, a Pakistan-based arms dealer. Sukha contacted Dogar via video call, flaunting an AK-47 and other advanced firearms wrapped in a shawl while negotiating an arms deal. Dogar agreed to supply the weapons, with Sukha committing to pay 50% upfront and the remaining 50% upon delivery in India.
According to the Navi Mumbai Police chargesheet, the gang coordinated their efforts through a WhatsApp group consisting of 15 to 16 members, including Anmol Bishnoi (Lawrence Bishnoi's brother), Goldy Brar, Kashyap, Bhatia, Cheena, and Javed Khan. The police reported that all shooters were awaiting instructions from Goldy Brar and Anmol Bishnoi. Upon receiving the order, they intended to use the smuggled weapons from Pakistan to carry out the attack on Salman Khan.
The assassination plot was foiled after a tip-off regarding the Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gangs' intentions to kill the actor. Police were alerted to Sukha’s close ties with Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother, Anmol Bishnoi, leading to the arrest of key suspects.
Sukha also maintained an active social media presence under the username "sukha.shutter," where he regularly posted pictures and videos with weapons. His Instagram profile reportedly had 1,022 followers and 1,290 posts, further implicating him in the police investigation.
The Navi Mumbai Police continue to investigate Sukha’s role in the conspiracy, with further arrests and developments expected in the coming days.
