The All-India Bishnoi Mahasabha has asked actor Salman Khan to travel to Mukam, the community’s holiest shrine in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, and apologise for the killing of a blackbuck in 1998. The appeal, made in a statement on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, comes days after a shooting at actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai that has revived attention on the long-running dispute.
Mahasabha national president Devendra Budhiya told ThePrint that the community could consider forgiveness if Khan apologises, saying, “There is still time.” He also said firing is wrong.
What the Mahasabha Said
The statement followed a meeting of the body’s office-bearers on Tuesday. Budhiya said Khan can go to Mukam and apologise, and that if he does, the community can think of forgiving him in line with its religious belief in protecting life. He said mistakes had been made on both sides and that the dispute could have been avoided if the actor had given up his arrogance.
Budhiya, whose name is also spelt Budiya in some reports, made a similar appeal on October 19 to ANI, saying that apologising to a community does not diminish a person and that disputes should be settled through dialogue. He said he had asked Khan to come to the temple and apologise.
Why Mukam
Mukam is a small village in Nokha tehsil of Bikaner district. It holds the samadhi of Guru Jambheshwar, the 15th-century saint who founded the Bishnoi faith in 1485 and laid down 29 principles, including kindness to all living beings and never cutting a green tree. ThePrint describes Mukam as being for Bishnois what Amritsar is for Sikhs.
Community leaders say the apology should be made at the shrine, not in a courtroom or on television, because forgiveness sought at the guru’s samadhi carries religious meaning. Large fairs are held at Mukam twice a year on new moon days.
The 1998 Blackbuck Case
The grievance dates to October 1998, when Khan was accused of hunting two blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur while shooting Hum Saath-Saath Hain. Bishnoi villagers, who revere the blackbuck, reported the matter to the forest department.
A Jodhpur court convicted Khan in April 2018 and sentenced him to five years in prison. He spent two nights in jail before getting bail, and his appeal is pending, according to ThePrint. Other actors accused in the case, including Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam, were acquitted.
The Shooting That Revived the Dispute
On Sunday, October 18, at about 7 pm, three men on a motorcycle fired at Tiger Shroff’s car near Pushpa Park in Mumbai’s Juhu area as he was leaving a football session. A police officer told PTI that Shroff was safe and uninjured, while his driver and an autorickshaw driver were hurt. Mumbai Police formed 15 teams to trace the attackers.
A social media post attributed to people linked to Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang claimed responsibility and demanded that Khan apologise. The authenticity of that post and its link to the shooting had not been verified, according to ANI.
Three suspects were arrested in Kota, Rajasthan, and brought to Mumbai on October 21 after a court granted transit remand, according to The Statesman. The Crime Branch said Shroff was not the shooters’ original target, and that they had planned to go after another prominent film personality but could not because of tight security. Police have registered a case that includes attempted murder, conspiracy and Arms Act offences, Variety reported.
Other Voices in the Debate
Singer Anup Jalota told IANS on October 20 that Khan should apologise to the Bishnoi community to end the hostility. Lawrence Bishnoi’s cousin Ramesh Bishnoi has also urged Khan to seek forgiveness at the guru’s samadhi, according to ThePrint, which said he described the matter as one of hurt religious sentiments.
Budhiya also defended Lawrence Bishnoi, saying no crime had been proved against him so far, according to ThePrint. Gulf News and other outlets describe Lawrence Bishnoi as a jailed gangster, and his gang has been linked to earlier threats against Khan.
Security was increased outside Khan’s Galaxy Apartments residence in Bandra after the shooting, according to the Free Press Journal. Khan had not responded publicly to the Mahasabha’s appeal in the reports reviewed.
Legal View on an Apology
Supreme Court lawyer Seema Sindhu told ThePrint that the legal effect of an apology depends on its wording. A general apology for hurting community sentiments would not be admissible evidence, she said, but a specific statement apologising for the poaching could be used by the prosecution as an admission before the appellate court.
Why It Matters
The appeal frames the dispute as a matter of faith and forgiveness rather than only a criminal case, and it comes while police investigate a violent attack linked to the same feud. It also leaves Khan with a difficult choice, because any public statement could affect his pending appeal.
What Happens Next
The Mumbai Crime Branch will question the three arrested suspects and continue to examine the claimed link with the gang. Police have not said when the investigation will conclude. Whether Khan responds to the Mahasabha, either personally or through his legal team, remains to be seen, and his appeal in the blackbuck case is still pending in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the Bishnoi Mahasabha asked Salman Khan to do?
To go to Mukam in Bikaner and apologise for the 1998 blackbuck killing.
Will the community forgive him if he apologises?
Budhiya said the community can think of forgiving him if he does so.
What is Mukam?
The Bishnoi community’s holiest shrine, in Nokha tehsil of Bikaner district, where Guru Jambheshwar’s samadhi is located.
What happened to Tiger Shroff?
Three men on a motorcycle fired at his car in Juhu on October 18. He was unhurt, but his driver and another man were injured.
Has anyone been arrested?
Three suspects were arrested in Kota and brought to Mumbai on October 21.
Has Salman Khan responded?
Not publicly, in the reports reviewed.
