the Bombay High Court has granted bail to Gaurav Bhatia alias Sandeep Bishnoi and Waspi Mehmud Khan alias Wasim Chikna, two men who were arrested last year in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. The court’s decision, announced on February 6, 2025, has added a new twist to the high-profile case.
According to media reports, Justice N R Borkar ruled in favor of their bail applications, citing a lack of concrete evidence against the accused. While their names surfaced in a WhatsApp group where the conspiracy was allegedly discussed, the court noted that this alone was insufficient to keep them in custody.
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The primary reason for granting bail was the absence of strong evidence directly linking the accused to the plot. The prosecution argued that Bhatia and Khan were part of a digital conversation about the alleged plan, but the court emphasized that mere presence in a group chat does not establish active involvement in a criminal conspiracy.
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According to the court, "The prosecution failed to present any significant evidence beyond the WhatsApp group chat. There is no proof that these individuals actively took part in executing the alleged murder plan."
Background Of The Salman Khan Murder Plot Case
The alleged conspiracy to kill Salman Khan made headlines in 2023 when reports emerged about a plan to target the actor near his farmhouse in Panvel. The case took a serious turn after law enforcement agencies claimed that multiple individuals were involved in plotting the attack.
The accused were arrested following an investigation that linked them to the suspected masterminds of the plot. However, with the latest court ruling, doubts have been raised about the strength of the case against them.