The Mumbai traffic police helpline received a threatening message on Tuesday from an individual claiming to be the brother of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, demanding that actor Salman Khan either pay Rs 5 crore or apologise at a temple to ensure his safety.

Police have since classified the threat as a hoax. This incident follows a similar threat directed at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath last week.

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According to The Indian Express report, the traffic helpline, originally intended for providing traffic updates and handling complaints, has become a major concern for police, with four threat messages reported in the past month alone. Khan has been the target of multiple threats, particularly following a shooting incident outside his residence, with other recent targets including Zeeshan Siddique, the son of former MLA Baba Siddique, who was killed recently.

Notably, the Mumbai police control room operates two helpline numbers, 100 and 112, but threats have been primarily sent to the traffic helpline number. A senior police officer noted that the traffic control room number is available on WhatsApp, while the main police helplines are not.

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“People believe that while calling and giving a threat may land them in trouble, if they merely send a WhatsApp message from a number or a connection not registered in their name, they will not be caught,” the officer said. “This is incorrect. In almost all cases, FIRs are registered at the local Worli police station and the person is identified and faces legal action,” he added.

The Mumbai traffic police WhatsApp line is often misused for threats due to its visibility and ease of access, especially among younger individuals who feel more comfortable sending messages than calling. Geo-tagging of Mumbai’s main helplines also limits access from outside the city, directing non-local calls to regional control rooms.

Officials believe the rise in such threats is partly due to public fascination with high-profile figures like Salman Khan. While leniency is shown for mentally unstable individuals, serious cases prompt strict action to avoid resource wastage and unnecessary searches.