The Navi Mumbai Police have apprehended a 19-year-old B.Com student from Assam for allegedly sending death threats and demanding ₹1 crore in ransom from popular rapper Bilal Shaikh, known professionally as Emiway Bantai. The accused, identified as Arulv Rameshkumar Alohi, was taken into custody following a technical analysis of the threatening message, which was sent to the official mobile number of Bantai Records, the rapper's label, on May 25.

According to law enforcement officials, the threatening message was traced to the Sonitpur district of Assam. A joint operation was then carried out by the Navi Mumbai Police, leading to Alohi's arrest and subsequent transfer to Navi Mumbai for interrogation.

In the threatening message, Alohi reportedly identified himself as Goldy Brar, a Canada-based associate of the incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The message also mentioned Rohit Godara, another associate of the gangster based in the United States. The timing of the threat coincided with the release of Emiway Bantai's song "Tribute to Sidhu Moose Wala" on May 26, which marked almost exactly three years since the Punjabi singer's assassination.

The police have stated that they are currently investigating whether Alohi acted independently or was following instructions from a larger network. Alohi was presented before a court on Wednesday and has been remanded in police custody until Thursday.

The rapper's manager filed a complaint at the NRI Coastal police station after an employee of Bantai Records discovered the threatening message. Police sources indicate that the threat was sent shortly after Emiway Bantai released his tribute song to Sidhu Moosewala.

Emiway Bantai stated that, "Sidhu Moosewala is more than an artist–he's a movement. His voice, his message, and his spirit continue to inspire me and so many others every single day. 'Tribute to Sidhu Moosewala' is my way of showing love and respect to someone who changed the game in his own way. Sidhu and I had actually spoken about collaborating. It was something we both wanted. This tribute is my way of making that dream a reality". Moosewala was tragically murdered on May 29, 2022. He was shot dead by the assailants in his car in Jawaharkhe village of the Mansa district.