Security beefed up outside Deepika Padukone’s Mumbai home after beheading threat

Mumbai Police has beefed up the security of ‘Padmavati’ actor Deepika Padukone after two separate right-wing outfits warned of physical harm, including beheading, incase she did not refrain from inciting public sentiments.

Karni Sena leader Mahipal Singh Makrana on Thursday invoked nose chopping of ‘Surpanakha’ in Ramayana and said if the film was not banned and Padukone does not refrain from fanning sentiments with her provocative language, the Rajputs will not fail to act.

Later in the day, Thakur Abhishek Som, an office-bearer of the Chatriya Samaj and active member of Samajwadi Party, announced a reward of Rs 5 crore to anyone who beheads Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the actress.

“Bhansali has raised a question on her (Rani Padmavati’s) courage by showing her in bad light in his film. This is unacceptable. Either both of them should leave the country or get ready to be beheaded,” he told reporters.

Reacting to the development, the Mumbai police stepped up actor’s security.

“The Mumbai Police have increased actor Deepika Padukone’s security after the outfit issued the nose chopping threat,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti told PTI.

We are providing her adequate security after the threat, he said. The police will also provide security at the actress’s residence as well as office in Mumbai.

Security tightened at Deepika Padukone’s residence in #Mumbai #Padmavati pic.twitter.com/v0MZeDZ1FU

— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2017

They have already provided protection to filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali after the Rajput community outfit protested outside his office in suburban Juhu last Saturday while accusing him of distorting historical facts in the history drama.

Police have beefed up security at Bhansali’s residence in Versova.

Many right-wing outfits have been protesting against the release of the film, claiming that it distorts history and hurts sentiments. The SRKS has also called for a country-wide bandh on December 1, the day the film is slated to be released.

In January this year, the SRKS had attacked the sets of the movie in Jaipur and even slapped Bhansali.

In the wake of the threats, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil told PTI yesterday that the government was assessing Padukone’s security.

“We have already provided security to Sanjay Leela Bhansali as he was found to be at risk. Now a security assessment of Deepika Padukone is being done. If she is found to be at risk, adequate steps will be taken. However, nobody’s threat can be taken at the face value until the government assesses it,” he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Padukone had hit out against those protesting the release of ‘Padmavati’ and reportedly said that “nothing could stop the release of the film” and “we’ve regressed as a nation”.

The film fraternity has come out in support of Bhansali and his film, even as regional outfits continue to hold protests in several parts of the country.

With agency inputs