Bollywood star Salman Khan has once again been the target of a serious death threat. But this time, the reason behind it is not related to gang rivalry or personal revenge. Instead, it was an unbelievable attempt to gain Instagram popularity.
According to The Times of India, a 25-year-old man named Mayank Pandya from Vadodara, Gujarat, sent a threat message to the Mumbai Traffic Police. His goal? To go viral on social media.
Threat Sent Just for Attention
The message, sent via WhatsApp, warned of a bomb attack on Salman Khan’s car and even hinted at an attack on the actor’s home in Bandra, Mumbai. The police acted quickly and tracked down the sender within hours. They found Pandya in his hometown and took him into custody.
During the police questioning, Mayank admitted that he never actually planned to harm Salman Khan. He said he was only trying to get famous on Instagram by pretending to be part of a gang. He copied the style of messages usually linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has made threats against Salman in the past.
Mayank believed that such a message would make him instantly popular online. Unfortunately for him, it didn’t lead to internet fame—but instead got him into serious trouble with the police.
Mental Health Behind the Threat
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Dattatray Kamble confirmed that the threatening message was sent from Pandya’s personal phone. During the investigation, police also found out that Mayank has been receiving mental health treatment since 2014, after witnessing a tragic accident where his grandfather died from electrocution.
His parents were completely unaware of what he was doing. According to the police, they were shocked when officers showed up at their door. “They had no idea about his actions but are cooperating fully with us,” said a police officer.
Because of his mental health condition, Mayank was not formally arrested, but he has been served a legal notice under laws related to criminal intimidation.
Salman Khan’s Ongoing Security Issues
Salman Khan has been under tight security for over a year now. In April 2024, two men shot four bullets outside his Bandra residence, which led Mumbai Police to give him Y-Plus level security protection. He has faced several threats, especially from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, making this latest incident even more serious.
Though this case turned out to be a bizarre attempt at gaining attention, it highlights a disturbing trend—people going to extreme lengths for social media fame.
It also raises concerns about mental health awareness and how social media can sometimes lead individuals to make dangerous choices just to feel seen.
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