Singer Bismil alleges Rs 5 crore extortion bid from gangster: What we know so far

Delhi-based singer Bismil has alleged that Haryana gangster Deepak Nandal demanded Rs 5 crore and threatened to kill him. The Delhi Police Special Cell has registered an FIR and launched an investigation.

In Short

• Bismil alleged Rs 5 crore extortion threats from gangster Deepak Nandal
• The threats came via calls and messages from a Portuguese number since April
• Delhi Police Special Cell has registered an FIR and started an investigation

Delhi-based singer Mohammad Asif, who performs under the stage name Bismil, has alleged that he has received threats from gangster Deepak Nandal, with a demand for Rs 5 crore in extortion money. Nandal, according to the complaint, is a Haryana gangster currently based abroad. The Delhi Police Special Cell has registered an FIR and started an investigation, while local police have provided security cover to the singer.

The case centres on a series of messages and calls allegedly made from a Portuguese number. Bismil has said the threats began in April and continued in May. The caller allegedly demanded money and threatened to kill the singer if the amount was not paid. The matter is now being investigated by the Special Cell.

According to the complaint, Bismil’s manager first received several threatening messages from the Portuguese number in April. The messages demanded 5 crore. After this, a complaint was lodged with the Haryana Police, and an FIR was registered in April.

The threats allegedly continued in May when Bismil was at his home in Delhi. During this period, his manager is said to have received repeated text messages and several phone calls from the same Portuguese number. The calls and messages allegedly carried threats to kill the singer if the money was not paid.

Police have said that an FIR has been registered and that an investigation is under way.

More about Bismil

Bismil has built a strong presence on social media and is known for his classical and Sufi performances. He has more than a million followers on Instagram and has performed in India as well as abroad. His rise gathered pace through cover performances, with his rendition of Kali Kali Zulfon Ke Phande becoming popular across platforms in 2022. Other performances linked to his growing popularity include Kehna Galat Galat, Tumhe Dillagi and Halka Halka Suroor.

One of the performances that drew wider attention was at cricketer Kuldeep Yadav’s wedding ceremony. Bismil’s appearance at the event was widely noticed, and Kuldeep Yadav and his wife were seen dancing to his shayari during the function.

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