Investigation reveals suspect created false WhatsApp messages to blackmail Salman Khan

Authorities in Mumbai have disclosed that the alleged blackmail of actor Salman Khan was a completely invented story. The investigation centered on Asif Mohammed Muslim Raja, a 25‑year‑old resident of Bandra who originally hails from Siwan, Bihar. He claimed that an unidentified gang had supplied him with money and a mobile phone to issue threats against the star.

Technical scrutiny of his phone exposed that the WhatsApp messages he presented as evidence were self‑generated. The phrasing, punctuation, and overall tone of the messages sent by the supposed gang and the replies were nearly identical, prompting investigators to conclude the suspect authored both sides of the conversation.

Police visits to the alleged meeting points produced no CCTV records of any interaction, further eroding the credibility of his claim. Upon further questioning, the suspect is reported to have confessed to devising the whole plot solely for the purpose of scaring Salman Khan and siphoning money.

Two cellular devices were recovered – one used to fabricate the WhatsApp chats and an older phone hidden near the Bandra seashore. Both phones, along with screenshots of the fabricated chats, were seized as part of the evidence collection.

Financial trails showed the suspect ordered around Rs 1.30 lakh through PhonePe from his hometown in Bihar, then withdrew the cash via a money‑transfer agent operating in Bandra. He has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 336(3), 351(3), 353(2), 271, 340, 248 and IT Act sections 66C and 66D. The probe remains open to establish if any accomplices were part of the ruse.