Mumbai: YouTuber behind Salman Khan threats has 19 email IDs

The YouTuber in the custody of the Anti-extortion Cell

A YouTuber who was arrested by the Anti-extortion Cell (AEC) for allegedly threatening Salman Khan was produced in court and was remanded to police custody till June 20. The police informed the court that they found at least 19 different email IDs from the accused, Banwarilal Gujjar, which they suspect were created to send threatening messages to the actor through various mediums.

The AEC informed the court that the YouTube channel used to threaten Salman Khan has been taken down from the platform, and they have preserved the video. In the 1.30-minute video, Gujjar is seen standing near a highway, issuing threats to Salman Khan. He can be heard saying, "I am here, Goldy bhai is here, Rohit is here, and Salman Khan is going to pass through this place soon. He will meet his fate. He has ego issues and is not apologising. Now, we will show him what Hindutva is."

Salman Khan. Pic/Instagram

According to the AEC, Salman Khan's team first saw the video, downloaded it, and contacted the police, leading to a case being registered against the YouTuber. The Crime Branch and city police were alarmed as they could not initially identify the highway location where the videos were made, suspecting it might be near the actor's Panvel farmhouse. They searched the area and informed the local police. Upon closer inspection, officials discovered the video was shot in Rajasthan. A team was dispatched, and the accused was arrested in his village.

"What surprised us was that the person is from the Gujjar community and is using the name of Bishnoi while threatening Khan. He had also made several videos in favour of gangsters, which have been removed. We fear the gangster is expanding his reach and using young people without criminal records to issue threats to the actor. Later, they might use Bishnoi's name to create fear among others as well," an officer said.

The officer further added, "The 19 email IDs found from the accused are suspected to have been created to issue threats to the actor by distributing them to other individuals. We are verifying every aspect. As of now, no direct links with the gangsters have been found. We are also checking his bank account to see if he has received any suspicious amounts."

According to the AEC, they have noticed a pattern in the recruitment by the Bishnoi gang, where mostly freshers are hired. For instance, the individuals who fired shots outside Khan's residence had no criminal background and did not know each other. "He is playing with the authorities to keep them off guard so that his real operatives can do the job," the officer added.

The lawyer representing Gujjar claimed that he did not mention anyone's name in the video and should be sent to judicial custody. His uncle, Kishan Gujjar, told the press, "He made the video for entertainment and has nothing to do with any illegal act. He has been misunderstood."

The accused, a farmer's son from Rajasthan, has a BA degree and was pursuing a BEd, aiming to become a teacher. He told the AEC that he made the videos to gain views and earn money from YouTube. However, the police are skeptical of his explanation, particularly because he cannot explain the reason for creating 19 different email IDs. He was arrested under Sections 506(2), 504, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 66(d) of the Information Technology (IT) Act.