Mumbai Crime Branch arrested Bengaluru-based IT engineer Vaibhav Mishra for allegedly threatening actors Tusshar Kapoor and Ayushmann Khurrana while impersonating a Lawrence Bishnoi gang member. Mishra reportedly demanded ₹5 crore from Kapoor through threatening Instagram messages. Although he claimed it was a prank, police are investigating possible organised crime connections.

Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested a 30-year-old IT engineer from Bengaluru for allegedly issuing extortion threats to Bollywood actors Tusshar Kapoor and Ayushmann Khurrana while posing as a member of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The accused, identified as Vaibhav Mishra, works with a private company in Bengaluru. During preliminary interrogation, he allegedly claimed that he had made the threatening calls and sent audio messages merely as a prank to create panic among Bollywood celebrities. However, the police are not ruling out the possibility of a larger conspiracy and are investigating whether he had any links with organised criminal networks.

Accused Arrested In Bengaluru

Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajtilak Roshan confirmed that the 30-year-old accused had been arrested in connection with alleged extortion attempts and threatening calls made to several individuals in Mumbai. He is being brought to Mumbai on transit remand and is expected to be produced before a court on Thursday, where the Crime Branch will seek his police custody for further investigation.

Actors Targeted Through Instagram Messages

According to sources in the Mumbai Crime Branch, the accused allegedly used Instagram to target Bollywood celebrities by sending threatening audio clips. Among those targeted were Tusshar Kapoor and Ayushmann Khurrana. The accused had reportedly demanded Rs 5 crore from Tusshar Kapoor.