Noida youth arrested for veiled threats against MLA Zeeshan Siddique and Salman Khan

A 20-year-old man from Noida, identified as Ufran Khan, has been arrested for allegedly issuing a veiled threat to the life of Bandra East MLA Zeeshan Siddique and actor Salman Khan. Police reported that Khan made a phone call to MLA Siddique's office helpline and sent two WhatsApp messages, claiming he overheard a plot to kill Siddique and the Bollywood superstar. Following the call, Siddique’s office staff filed a complaint with the Nirmal Nagar police station on October 25 at around 9:30 pm.

Upon receiving the complaint, the Mumbai Crime Branch (Unit-8) swiftly collaborated with the Noida police to trace Khan through the mobile number he used to make the call and send the messages. He was located in Noida, brought to Mumbai on a transit remand, and handed over to the Nirmal Nagar police, who have since initiated a full investigation into the incident.

According to police, the complaint stated that the accused issued veiled threats suggesting an imminent danger to Siddique and Khan. Although Khan did not directly demand money during the call or messages, police believe his intention was to eventually solicit money by offering information on the alleged threats he claimed to have overheard.

Further investigation revealed that the threat was a hoax, fabricated by Khan with the intent to gradually “mint money” from Siddique’s office. Authorities believe the suspect hoped that by creating a sense of urgency and fear, he could eventually profit from the situation.

The incident has highlighted the challenges faced by public figures and their teams in managing security threats, especially as some seek to exploit these situations for personal gain. Police are conducting further inquiries to determine if Khan has any previous history of similar offenses.

The arrest underscores the vigilance of Mumbai’s law enforcement agencies in swiftly addressing threats, whether real or fabricated, to public figures. Both MLA Zeeshan Siddique and actor Salman Khan were alerted about the situation, and no further threats to their safety have been identified.