Mumbai: Mumbai Police have traced the threatening voice-note sent to actor Ranveer Singh to a sender operating through a Virtual Private Network (VPN), making identification difficult. Officials said the individual behind the WhatsApp message has been identified but their name is being withheld for now. Security has been tightened around the actor’s residence after the note demanded several crores of rupees, prompting immediate police involvement.

Voice-note delivered via WhatsApp, sender still being traced

According to investigators, the threat reached the actor in an audio message on WhatsApp, and a manhunt is now underway to track down the individual responsible. Police say the use of a VPN masked the origin of the message, complicating attempts to trace the device or location from which it was sent.

The actor has also been making headlines over his dispute with the makers of ‘Don 3’ following his decision to step away from the film. At the same time, he is gearing up for the release of his much-awaited project ‘Dhurandhar 2’, scheduled to arrive in cinemas on 19 March 2026.

Similar threats targeting other Bollywood figures

This incident comes amid a growing pattern of threats directed at public figures in Mumbai. In a separate case, actor Aayush Sharma – Salman Khan’s brother-in-law – recently received a threatening email. Police officials revealed the message was sent using Proton Mail, a service known for its high privacy protections. The sender claimed affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, intensifying concerns about targeted intimidation of film industry personalities.

Officers say Sharma’s case adds to a long-running list of criminal intimidation incidents involving celebrities in the city.

Rohit Shetty firing case: Vehicle traced to Pune

In a more serious development, investigations into the firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s home uncovered that the vehicle used in the attack originated in Pune. According to the Mumbai Crime Branch, the car belonged to a Pune resident and was sold for ₹30,000 to accused Aditya Gayki shortly before the shooting.

Gayki and another accused, Samarth Pomaji, allegedly drove the car to Mumbai and left it at a pre-arranged spot in Juhu. Investigators say the pair had no knowledge of the shooter. It was absconding accused Shubham Lonkar who instructed the gunman to retrieve the vehicle and carry out the firing.

Crime Branch: Absconding accused aimed to create panic in Mumbai

Officials told the court that Lonkar intended to instil fear in the city, and remained in touch with the arrested accused via a single messaging application. Police revealed that Lonkar transferred ₹40,000 to one of the suspects as part of the plan.

Crime Branch investigators also stated that Lonkar supplied three weapons to his brother, Praveen Lonkar, one of which was later handed to the accused in the Rohit Shetty shooting incident. IANS