Filmmaker Rohit Shetty Receives ₹20 Crore Extortion Threat from Lawrence Bishnoi Gang

Mumbai (IANS): Months after gunmen opened fire outside his Juhu residence, Bollywood filmmaker Rohit Shetty has reportedly received a fresh extortion threat of ₹20 crore from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The gang delivered the threat via a 90-second audio clip, warning the director that he would be the “direct target” if he failed to pay the extortion money. According to police sources, the sender stated in the audio clip that the February firing at Shetty’s house was “only a trailer,” and warned that this time, the bullets would be directed at the filmmaker himself.

Voice Suspected to be Wanted Criminal Shubham Lonkar

The Mumbai Crime Branch has launched an intense probe into the matter after Rohit Shetty’s staff discovered the audio clip on Saturday morning.

A senior Mumbai Crime Branch official confirmed that the staff immediately handed the recording over to the police.

Key Investigation Details:

• The Voice: Initial investigations suggest the voice in the audio belongs to Shubham Lonkar, a close aide of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
• The Status: Lonkar is a wanted fugitive, highly sought by law enforcement for his involvement in both the 2024 murder of political leader Baba Siddique and the February 2026 firing incident at Shetty’s residence.
• Forensic Verification: The police have dispatched the audio clip to a forensic laboratory to verify the voice.

Escalation After the February Juhu Firing

This fresh threat drastically escalates the gang’s targeted campaign against the filmmaker.

In February 2026, bike-borne assailant Deepak Sharma fired five bullets outside Rohit Shetty’s Juhu residence near Hasya Kalakar Mehmood Chowk. While the Lawrence Bishnoi gang immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, police later tracked down and arrested Sharma in Agra.

Following a swift investigation, the Mumbai Crime Branch filed a 1,624-page charge sheet in April, naming 15 individuals accused in the firing plot. Out of those named, Pravin Lonkar and Aarzo Bishnoi were officially declared absconders.

The police have tightened security around the filmmaker as they analyze the digital footprint of the new audio message.