Kangana says she heard bullet-like sound twice next to her room, alleges film mafia used same tactics to drive Sushant to suicide

Calling it an attempt to intimate her, the actress claims some Manali locals may have been hired

Though belonging to Mandi district of Himachal, since locklown Kangana is living along with her family at her bungalow around 2 km from Manali.

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, August 3

The Himachal Pradesh Police have increased patrol around Kangana Ranaut’s residence in Manali as the actress feared she could be allegedly targeted by Bollywood film mafia following her recent outbursts over the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Though belonging to Mandi district of Himachal, Kangana lives along with her family at her bungalow around 2 km from Manali. Her family had complained of hearing some gunshots late on Friday night near the house.

In a statement Kangana issued on Saturday, she claimed that the incident was meant to intimidate her for speaking up about Sushant Rajput's death.

Kangana's father Amardeep Singh Ranaut said the shots were heard in nearby apple orchards. “They sounded like gunshots…. but could even be crackers to keep bats away from the orchards that are currently blooming with apples," he said.

Police officials said owners of nearby orchards were questioned and they denied bursting crackers or firing gunshots to keep bats away.

Amardeep Singh said they didn't authenticate whether the sound was from the barrel of the gun.

Kullu Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh, however, maintained there was no evidence of firing at the spot. “We received a phone call about loud noise and subsequently patrolling was stepped up in the area as a precaution. No security has been provided to her as the family hasn’t lodged a formal complaint," he said.

As per the police statement, at around 9.45pm on Friday, the police station in Manali received a call from the house of Kangana Ranaut wherein they stated that some loud noise was heard in the vicinity.

In her statement, Kangana said: "I was in my bedroom. I heard a cracker-like sound at night. At first, I thought it must be a cracker. And then another shot happened, and I got a little alarmed since that sounded like a gunshot. I called my security in charge immediately... Let's see what this was, and if this is repeated again. I have heard the sound of a bullet and I think it was definitely a bullet, very intently fired twice, two shots with a gap of about eight seconds. And it was right opposite my room. So it seems like someone was behind the boundary walls, there's a jungle and a water body there.

“I think some local people may have been hired to come near my place, you know, it is not difficult to pay someone seven-eight thousand rupees here and assign them something like this. To do this to make a statement on the day I called out the Chief Minister's son -- I don't think it was a coincidence. People are telling me that they will now make your life miserable in Mumbai. Well, I don't have to be in Mumbai, they are doing it here also. Is there open ‘goondagardi’ in this country? This is how Sushant must have been frightened. But I will continue to ask questions." (With IANS inputs)