New Delhi: Bhojpuri singer-actor and BJP leader Pawan Singh reportedly received a threat call from a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, warning him not to share a stage with Salman Khan. Irrespective of this, he went ahead and appeared on the Bigg Boss 19 finale.
The Bishnoi gang has been issuing death threats to Khan for years, which has led to a steady increase in the actor’s security. Singh, too, has been under Y-category protection since he rejoined the BJP in October. Yet, neither seemed to have a care in the world when they met on the Bigg Boss stage.
When Singh appeared on the show, he began by asking Khan if he could address him as bhaiya (brother).
“I’m a huge fan, and getting the chance to stand before you today feels like a dream come true,” Singh said, before sharing a hug with the star.
He later danced with Khan and Bigg Boss contestant Neelam Giri to his song Rajaji Ke Dilwa. After the performance, the Bhojpuri star, who recently featured in MX Player’s reality show Rise and Fall, praised Khan’s sporting nature.
“He has truly rocked it,” he said.
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Threat & extortion
Singh received a call from an unknown number on Saturday, with the caller claiming to be linked to the Bishnoi gang, according to an IANS report.
The caller reportedly warned Singh not to share the stage with Salman Khan and demanded a large sum of money, threatening severe consequences if the demand was ignored.
While Singh has not issued a public statement, he has reportedly filed two separate complaints with the Mumbai Crime Branch’s Anti-Extortion Cell.
The Bhojpuri singer was already under heightened protection since October. He was granted Y-category security by the Ministry of Home Affairs following an Intelligence Bureau alert about potential threats ahead of the Bihar assembly election. He was expected to contest in the polls but announced he’d merely serve as a ”soldier” instead.
The Bishnoi gang’s hostility toward Khan is linked to the 1998 blackbuck poaching case, where the actor was accused of hunting the protected animal in Rajasthan, a species considered sacred by the Bishnoi community.
Bishnoi has repeatedly said that Khan must face consequences for what he views as an affront to their faith.
(edited by Asavari Singh)