IT Engineer Held for Demanding ₹5 Crore from Tusshar Kapoor

Mumbai Police’s crime branch has arrested Vaibhav Mishra, a 30-year-old IT engineer from Bengaluru, for allegedly sending extortion and threat messages to Bollywood actors, including Ayushmann Khurrana and Tusshar Kapoor. Investigators say he was looking for what police called “a quick buck” by feeding off the fear created by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang’s recent threats against film personalities.

From Instagram messages to a ₹5 crore demand

Police said the accused sent threatening messages to Ayushmann and several other actors on Instagram. Once the actors reported the messages, officers traced him using his online profile and technical details, which led to the arrest.

The investigation also points to a voice note sent to Tusshar Kapoor in which the sender allegedly demanded ₹5 crore. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Rajtilak Roushan confirmed the arrest and said Mishra would be brought to Mumbai after a local court in Bengaluru grants transit remand.

At this stage, police said there is no evidence that Mishra is linked to the Bishnoi gang. Interrogation is still pending, and officers have not ruled out that he was working alone.

The Bishnoi shadow

The threats landed during an already tense window for Bollywood. Days after a firing was reported at actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Juhu on October 18, Tusshar Kapoor received a threatening audio clip. That clip was initially attributed to Hari Chand Jat, also known as Harry Boxer, an aide of incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

Forensic analysis, however, found that the voice in the clip did not match available samples of Boxer. Police said that pointed to someone else using the Bishnoi name as a scare tactic — and the trail eventually led to the Bengaluru IT engineer.

What fans can take away

For readers who follow Bollywood closely, the case is a reminder that not every celebrity threat is part of an organised criminal plot. Impersonators can use a well-known name to create panic, and that is exactly what investigators suspect happened here.

• Arrested: Vaibhav Mishra, 30, an IT engineer from Bengaluru.
• Alleged target list: Ayushmann Khurrana and other actors, via Instagram.
• Demand: ₹5 crore in a voice note allegedly sent to Tusshar Kapoor.
• Status: No established Bishnoi link yet; transit remand and interrogation pending.

If you come across a threatening account impersonating a celebrity or a gang, report it to the platform and the authorities rather than sharing it. Amplifying the message only gives the sender what they are looking for.

Source: Hindustan Times

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#Ayushmann Khurrana#Bollywood crime#Extortion Threat#Mumbai police#Tusshar Kapoor#Vaibhav Mishra