Cops suspect involvement of event firm; no complaint yet

BOLLYWOOD’S PHONE IS RINGING

MUMBAI: A man who goes by the name of Altaf is being suspected to be behind the threatening calls gangster Chhota Shakeel allegedly made to Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam.

Last month, the singer allegedly received threats to cancel his deal with an event management company for a world tour and sign up with another one.

Nigam had not filed a complaint with the local police or the anti-extortion cell of the Mumbai police crime branch till Thursday evening.

A source in the police’s crime branch, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media, said: “We believe that the name Altaf is using is a fake one. Also, it looks like he wanted to bag Nigam’s contract, and failed to do so. He may have then used his connection with Shakeel to threaten the singer.”

The officer said they were trying to identify who Altaf was.

When Hindustan Times called Nigam to verify the story, the phone was disconnected as soon as our reporter revealed that he was calling from this newspaper.

The singer is out of the country and is expected to approach the police only on his return. Sources said that Nigam had informally informed the police commissioner and a couple of other officers about the threat.

Last month, producer Boney Kapoor had allegedly received death threats from an unidentified man, suspected to be linked to Ravi Pujari’s gang. Filmmaker Karan Johar had also received an extortion threat.