Our Bureau
Mumbai
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh has become the latest target of an extortion attempt after receiving a threatening WhatsApp voice note demanding several crores of rupees, police sources said on Monday. The message, sent from an unidentified number, allegedly carried a clear demand for money and an implicit threat to the actor’s safety, prompting him to immediately inform the Mumbai Police.
Security outside Singh’s residence in Mumbai has been significantly tightened as a precautionary measure, with additional personnel deployed and patrolling intensified in the area. The Mumbai Police have launched a probe to trace the sender of the voice note and are examining the digital trail, including the phone number and IP details linked to the WhatsApp account.
The threat comes days after a firing incident outside the Juhu residence of filmmaker Rohit Shetty, which is currently being investigated by the Mumbai Crime Branch and has raised concerns about growing criminal targeting of film‑industry figures. According to media reports, the caller in the voice note also claimed to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, though police are yet to independently confirm any such link.
Industry insiders say the incident has triggered fresh unease among celebrities about their digital security and personal safety, especially given the ease with which anonymous threats can now be delivered through encrypted platforms. Authorities have urged public‑figures and ordinary citizens alike to report suspicious messages promptly and avoid engaging with unknown callers or numbers making extortion demands.
