Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui has allegedly received threats from the criminal syndicate led by incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, which is currently under investigation by the Mumbai police. This syndicate has claimed responsibility for the murder of former state minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique on Saturday. In light of this threat, the Mumbai police have provided security to Faruqui.
A police officer stated that the department received intelligence inputs indicating a potential threat to the comedian from the Bishnoi gang, as per the report by Hindustan Times. The specific reason behind the threat remains unclear, but authorities are actively investigating the matter. Over the past few years, Faruqui has faced allegations from Hindu groups regarding his comedy, which they claim hurt their sentiments. He has consistently denied these accusations.
Also Read: Mumbai Firing Incidents: 19 people died in such occurrence in 9 years
The news of another celebrity being targeted by the Bishnoi syndicate follows the arrest of three alleged gang members by city police since the shooting incident involving Siddique in Bandra (East) on Saturday. Additionally, the Delhi police arrested a shooter linked to the Bishnoi gang, who was involved in the murder of a gym owner in South Delhi last month.
The Bishnoi syndicate first came under the Mumbai police’s radar on April 14, when two shooters fired five rounds outside actor Salman Khan’s Galaxy Apartments in Bandra. In June, Navi Mumbai police arrested four alleged members of the gang who were reportedly planning to target Khan's vehicle in Panvel, Raigad.
Earlier, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case against the syndicate and Bishnoi's associates under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in August 2022. Investigations by the NIA revealed that the gang had expanded its "mafia-style criminal networks" across several states in India, being involved in high-profile crimes such as the murder of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022. Furthermore, the NIA found that many conspiracies orchestrated by the syndicate were allegedly masterminded from abroad, including Canada, or by leaders of organised terror groups operating from Indian prisons.