Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday issued a stern warning to organised crime groups, including the Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate, asserting that any attempt to disturb peace in Mumbai
would be met with swift and decisive police action.
His remarks came against the backdrop of a recent firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence and a series of threat calls and messages received by Bollywood celebrities, including Ranveer Singh and Salman Khan.
Speaking about the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Fadnavis said that Mumbai Police would “find and neutralise” anyone trying to spread fear in the city.
He underlined that no gang would be allowed to establish a foothold in Mumbai and reminded that law-enforcement agencies had successfully dismantled criminal networks in the past and would do so again.
The Chief Minister also sought to reassure citizens and the film fraternity, saying there was no need to panic and that those responsible for recent attacks had either been arrested or were being actively pursued.
Fadnavis added that investigators were examining whether those issuing threats were directly linked to the same gang behind the firing incidents or whether others were attempting to exploit the situation to create panic.
According to him, all possible angles were being probed.
The statement follows developments on the probe into the shooting outside Rohit Shetty’s Juhu home.
Mumbai Crime Branch’s Anti-Extortion Cell has arrested five accused so far, including Asharam (also referred to as Asaram) Fasle alias Babu, who allegedly supplied the weapon used in the firing.
Police have told the court that Fasle had been associated with the Bishnoi gang for several years and acted on the instructions of fugitive Shubham Lonkar.
The Esplanade Court remanded all five accused to police custody until February 11, 2026, citing the seriousness of the offence and the need for detailed, joint interrogation.
Investigators have also informed the court that the accused communicated through encrypted messaging platforms and that social-media posts claiming responsibility for the attack were under scrutiny.
Several teams had been dispatched across the country to track down the shooter, who remains absconding.
The alleged objective behind the firing was to spread fear within the Hindi film industry.
According to some reports, intelligence inputs suggested multiple celebrities had received extortion threats but were reluctant to lodge formal complaints.
In one social-media message attributed to Shubham Lonkar, warnings were issued to Rohit Shetty and the wider industry, though the filmmaker himself has denied receiving any threatening calls.
Separately, Ranveer Singh was reportedly targeted through a WhatsApp voice note demanding crores of rupees, prompting authorities to enhance security outside his residence and launch a manhunt for the sender.
The sequence of events has revived concerns over the safety of high-profile figures in Mumbai, particularly in light of earlier threats made to Salman Khan that have kept him under heightened security in recent years.
