April 23, 2024 16:14 (IST)
We will not succumb to pressure: Mahesh Bhatt
Mumbai, Nov 20 (IBNS): After Mumbai police busted plans of targeting Bollywood stalwarts by underworld don Ravi Pujari, Director Mahesh Bhatt said they will not be succumbing to such threats, media reported.
Mahesh Bhatt said that he will not be intimidated by the underworld. 'If we succumb individually to pressures of underworld, it will only create a monster. Mumbai police was smart enough to neutralize the threat before it was committed,' he said."
The possible attack on Shah Rukh Khan came to light after Mumbai police arrested seven members of a gang earlier this week.
The gang was arrested on Monday for firing gunshots at the Mumbai house of producer Karim Morani in last August.
Morani holds the distribution rights to several films including Shah Rukh's 'Happy New Year' which released last month.
Police said that during interrogation, the gang revealed they were planning target primary players in Bollywood including actor Shah Rukh Khan, director Farah Khan, and director-producer Mahesh Bhatt.
They claimed to have completed a recce on the home of Farah Khan and the office of Shah Rukh Khan.
They also been monitoring Mahesh Bhatt's movements for almost two months, said Police.
According to reports, the suspects admitted they were working at the behest of underworld don Ravi Pujari, who is believed to be based abroad.
It has been learnt that Ravi Pujari, who allegedly makes regular extortion demands of Bollywood personalities, is reportedly outraged that he was not given the international rights to Happy New Year.
He also allegedly demanded a share of the earnings from a massive international publicity tour that included Shah Rukh Khan.
It has been learnt that the reel-life 'Don' received threat calls from real-life don.
Media reported that earlier this year, Pujari had sent a SMS to Khan's close friend and business associate Karim Morani, mentioning the superstar.
Later, to make sure that the message got across, he also called up Shah Rukh Khan's office to directly issue the threat to him.
Though Shah Rukh aides denied such reports.
"Our police officers had information that the seven were carrying weapons and were about to kill a famous Bollywood personality to establish themselves in the industry so they could extort money later," said Sadanand Date, Joint Commissioner of Police, Mumbai Crime Branch had been quoted by Mid-Day as saying.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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