A West Bengal resident, Dilip Choudhary, has been arrested for allegedly threatening popular comedian Kapil Sharma and demanding Rs 1 crore, police officials in Mumbai said on Saturday. Choudhary reportedly used the names of notorious gangsters Rohit Godara and Goldy Brar, claiming links with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to intimidate Sharma and his team.
According to police, Choudhary contacted Sharma’s personal assistant on September 22 and 23, sending threatening video messages and making monetary demands. The messages purportedly aimed to instill fear by referencing organized crime networks. Following a detailed investigation, a Mumbai Crime Branch team tracked Choudhary to West Bengal, where he was arrested on Friday. He was later produced in court and remanded to police custody until September 30. Authorities said further investigation is ongoing to determine whether there were other accomplices or prior attempts to extort money.
MNS Issues Warning Over ‘Bombay’ Reference on Kapil Sharma Show
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has issued a warning to Kapil Sharma’s comedy show, The Great Indian Kapil Show, after a celebrity guest referred to the city as “Bombay” instead of Mumbai. Ameya Khopkar, head of the MNS film wing, criticized the usage, pointing out that the city’s name was officially changed by the Maharashtra Government in 1995 and recognized by the Central Government in 1996, well before other major city name changes such as Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.
In a statement on X, Khopkar urged Bollywood celebrities, anchors, and media personalities to respect the official name: “Even though 30 years have passed since Bombay was officially renamed Mumbai, the term Bombay is still frequently used in Bollywood shows, by Delhi-based MPs, show anchors, and Hindi films. Therefore, a humble request-cum-warning is being issued to respect this and use the name Mumbai.”
The developments have sparked discussions online, with many pointing out the importance of following official nomenclature in media and entertainment. Authorities have also reiterated that threats against public figures like Kapil Sharma are taken seriously, and the investigation into Choudhary’s case is continuing.
