Bengaluru techie held for threatening Tusshar Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana in Bishnoi gang's name

The accused, identified as Vaibhav Mishra, allegedly sent threatening audio messages to several actors, demanding money and invoking the names of Bishnoi gang members to intimidate them. However, preliminary investigations have found no evidence of his links to the gang.

A 30-year-old Bengaluru-based IT engineer was arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch on Wednesday for allegedly sending extortion threats to Bollywood actors Tusshar Kapoor and Ayushmann Khurrana, among others, using the names of members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The accused, identified as Vaibhav Mishra, allegedly sent threatening audio messages to several actors, demanding money and invoking the names of Bishnoi gang members to intimidate them. However, preliminary investigations have found no evidence of his links to the gang.

Mishra was arrested in Bengaluru by a Mumbai Crime Branch team, which is now bringing him to Mumbai for further investigation.

The techie's arrest came days after two bike-borne gunmen, who are from the Bishnoi gang, opened fire at actor Tiger Shroff's car in Mumbai's Juhu area on October 18. The Bishnoi gang had claimed responsibility for the attack.

ABOUT THE EXTORTION THREATS?

The case came to light after Khurrana received a threatening audio clip in which the sender claimed to be associated with the Bishnoi gang and allegedly demanded crores of rupees. Police began investigating the recording and were matching the voice with audio samples of the gang member whose name the caller had invoked.

Kapoor had also received a threatening audio message a few days earlier. The sender allegedly identified himself as Harry Boxer, a purported member of the Bishnoi gang, and demanded Rs 5 crore from the actor.

Following the complaint, the Mumbai Police's Anti-Extortion Cell and Crime Branch took up the investigation.

A technical examination of the recording, including comparison with the official voice samples of Harry Boxer available in police records, suggested that the audio did not match. Investigators initially suspected that someone had used the gang's name to create fear.

The arrest of Mishra is part of the probe into the threatening messages sent to multiple Bollywood personalities. Police are investigating the motive behind the threats and the extent of the accused's involvement in the extortion attempts.

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