The shadowy world of cyber threats has infiltrated Bollywood once more, with actor Ranveer Singh falling victim to a sophisticated extortion scheme. A menacing WhatsApp voice message arrived on February 10, insisting on massive payments and threatening severe repercussions. Mumbai Police disclosed that the sender cleverly utilized a VPN to obscure their location and identity.
This method echoes the anonymous Proton Mail assault on Aayush Sharma, Salman Khan’s relative, with both cases pointing fingers at the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate. The gang’s audacious moves are testing the limits of law enforcement in India’s entertainment hub.
Alerted immediately, Ranveer informed the police, prompting a rapid escalation in his personal security. Extra officers now guard his Mumbai home, a precaution amplified by the fresh memory of gunfire at Rohit Shetty’s residence—another Shetty collaborator, given Ranveer’s roles in films like ‘Singham Again.’
Investigators are meticulously tracing the digital trail: IP addresses masked by VPN, message metadata, and voice analysis. Authorities believe these are pure extortion plays, capitalizing on celebrity status. Bollywood’s elite are on edge as three incidents in quick succession—a shooting and dual threats—signal a coordinated campaign.
With arrests in the Shetty case providing leads, police vow to dismantle this network. Ranveer’s ordeal highlights the perilous intersection of fame and organized crime, urging stricter cyber vigilance.