The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has launched a forensic investigation into a viral audio clip in which a man, allegedly identifying himself as gangster Harry Boxer, issues death threats and extortion demands to actor Ranveer Singh and director Rohit Shetty.
The threats, reportedly linked to the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang, surfaced following a recent firing incident outside Shetty’s residence in Juhu. The audio message, which has been widely circulated on social media and news platforms, reportedly demands a ransom of Rs 1 crore and warns the duo of "dire consequences" for involving the police in their security matters.
The investigation was triggered after a WhatsApp voice note was sent to Ranveer Singh’s manager. In the recording, the speaker—suspected to be Bishnoi associate Hari Chand, alias Harry Boxer—claims that "even seven generations" of the celebrities would not be able to harm the gang.
The message specifically warned the pair for filing a police complaint following a drive-by shooting on January 31, during which five rounds were fired at Rohit Shetty’s building. The sender further claimed to have detailed knowledge of the daily movements and residential addresses of the stars' managers and families.
A senior official from the Mumbai Crime Branch stated that the audio has been sent for forensic examination to verify its authenticity. Investigators are working to determine if the voice belongs to Boxer or if the clip is a sophisticated "deepfake" generated by artificial intelligence.
"Distinguishing between copycat criminals and genuine threats is increasingly difficult," a police spokesperson noted. "While we are aware of the circulating audio, we are also investigating the use of a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to mask the sender's location, which currently traces back to a foreign country."