Shah Rukh Khan death threat: Who is Faizan Khan, lawyer who took issue with actor’s ‘deer hunting’ dialogue?

Last updated:Nov 8, 2024 2:49 PM IST

The investigation into a recent death threat against Shah Rukh Khan has led Mumbai Police to Chhattisgarh-based lawyer Faizan Khan.

Mumbai Police is investigating Chhattisgarh lawyer Faizan Khan in Shah Rukh Khan’s death threat case.

Following a recent death threat against actor Shah Rukh Khan, the investigation has drawn attention to a lawyer from Chhattisgarh named Faizan Khan. Mumbai Police summoned Faizan and revealed a previous link between him and the actor, though the relationship was reportedly contentious.

Who is Faizan Khan?

Faizan Khan, also known as Mohammad Faizan Khan, is a lawyer residing within the jurisdiction of Pandri Police Station in Raipur. His connection with the case came to light when investigation revealed that the threatening message to Shah Rukh Khan came from his phone, as confirmed by Senior Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh to PTI. As part of the investigation, Mumbai Police visited Raipur and summoned him for questioning.

When Faizan learned that the threat had been made from a phone number in his name, he claimed that he had lost his phone the week before and had reported it to the police. Initially, police had identified the person as Faiyaz Khan.

The recent threat against Shah Rukh Khan follows a series of threats against fellow Bollywood actor Salman Khan, allegedly linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, over his suspected involvement in a 1999 poaching case.

Faizan Khan’s previous dispute with Shah Rukh

Speaking to reporters in Raipur, Faizan claimed that his phone had been stolen and termed the threat as a conspiracy against him. “My phone was stolen on November 2 and I have filed a complaint. I told the Mumbai police. They interrogated me for about two hours,” he stated.

Faizan further explained that he had earlier filed a complaint against Shah Rukh Khan with the Mumbai Police over a dialogue in the actor’s 1994 film Anjaam, which he said portrayed deer hunting in a negative light. He believes that the person who stole his phone is trying to implicate him by linking his previous complaint to the current threats against Salman.

“I am from Rajasthan. The Bishnoi community (who are from Rajasthan) is my friend. It is in their religion to protect deer. So if a Muslim says something like that about deer, it is reprehensible. That is why I objected,” he said. He added: “Whoever called from my phone, it seems deliberate. I think it’s a conspiracy against me.’

The death threat against Shah Rukh Khan

Mumbai Police have filed an extortion case and summoned Faizan Khan as part of their investigation into a death threat against Shah Rukh Khan, demanding ₹50 lakh.

“The Bandra police station received a call threatening Shah Rukh Khan and asking for ₹50 lakh. A violation has been registered. No arrest has been made yet,” a senior Mumbai police official said.

Bandra police have registered a case under sections 308(4) (extortion with threat of death or grievous hurt) and 351(3)(4) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the threat against Shah Rukh Khan.